organisation responsible for their introduction and a PR firm.
Amongst the interesting tidbits is this:
"Apparently the RFID lobby sees public reluctance as nothing more than
an obstacle to be overcome with shallow bromides and platitudes. Many of
the documents are related to focus-group surveys in which consumers
wisely note that RFID offers them few benefits while posing considerable
threats to privacy. In response, PR firm Fleischman-Hillard recommends
that the industry communicate several inaccuracies, the most egregious
being that the RFID transponder is "nothing more than an improved
bar-code," as if broadcasting data were an inconsequential difference.
In another it is suggested that the sheep-like populace will resign
itself to the inevitability of this innovation, though they may not much
care for it.
In one document it is recommended that RFID tags be re-named "Green
Tags" to suggest an overlay of environmental concern. But it seems that
they will be re-named eTags, to give them that cool Silicon Valley
cachet instead.
At no point do the flacks suggest the obvious solution to consumer
concerns, namely that any products containing such tags be identified
clearly and that they be designed so that buyers can remove or disable
them easily.
A recent document posted here explains how 'eTags' will be used in
connection with the ePC Network. The acronym ePC stands for Electronic
Product Code: a "globally unique pointer for making enquiries about the
item associated with the EPC," we are told. So that's the plan according
to AutoID.org: a 'globally unique pointer' in every product, networked
via the Web, and marketed as nothing more than an 'improved bar code'."
So let's see...the RFID Lobby is attempting to use Disinformation and
half truths to shove this ID technology down the throats of American
consumers.
The sad thing is that they are probably right about the American
public.There is a high probability that they will be able to shove this
down the throats of Americans by manipulating the media. Big business
and government seems to have absolutely no respect for the intelligence
or resolve of the American public.Hope I'm wrong though. We'll see.
http://theregister.com/content/archive/31654.html
-Gel
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