bLogically Speaking: P.I.: Today's Goulash 02/16

PRIVATE EYE: Knock Knock, Future Calling

Here is a small sampler of Privacy issues for you. Little by little, pebble by pebble, we are losing the fight. Enjoy the twilight years of privacy as we know it.

Tag'em Like A Wild Animal
Brittan Elementary School in Sutter, California USA is disappointed that InCom Corp has withdrawn from a project to use RFID tags on the students. I wrote about RFID tags back in October 2004 ("P.I.: Tag! You're It"). Basically it a tiny (think grain of rice) chip that stores a unique number. A scanner sends a radio frequency (RF) to the chip and the chip transmits back the data. It needs no battery, instead it is powered by the RF wave. Currently this technology works from a few inches to several feet away. Expect greater distance as the technology matures. Since it is RF it goes through solid material (like flesh, clothes, or paper).

The Brittan School wants to track students everywhere on campus. Like every two-edged sword this cuts both ways - it can improve security, automate student attendance, and greatly increase making sure the kids are where they should be - all positive reasons for using RFID. But what about the negative? For one thing there is no way to turn the RFID off (other than destroying it). This means wherever the child goes with the tag the potential is there for tracking - stores, restaurants, individuals, well hopefully you are getting the idea. What about false positives - slipping your tag in another students pack, now you slip off while the system things it knows where you are. The solution to that will be implants under the skin.

Electronically Readable National ID Card
There is a bill before the US Congress (H.R.418) to require your state ID card to contain electronically readable data or else the Federal government will not accept it. If passed this law would force states to comply or else their citizens would be unable to interact with the Federal government (on second thought that might be a good thing). The US State Department will soon be issuing passports with RFID chips. This is all in response to national security. Sidestepping any state rights issue I actually endorse the "electronically readable" idea provided it is individual controlled - see my post from October 2004 "Give Me Your Life History". This would could be done with a magnetic strip on the ID card. Unfortunately I expect the RFID tag to be the method used by the states.

Has Your Identity Been Stolen Yet?
ChoicePoint Inc. is a company that describes itself as

ChoicePoint has grown from the nation's premier source of data to the insurance industry into the premier provider of decision-making intelligence to businesses and government. Through the identification, retrieval, storage, analysis and delivery of data, ChoicePoint serves the informational needs of businesses of all sizes, as well as federal, state and local government agencies.

ChoicePoint is now warning thousands of Californians that thieves breached security in October 2004 and stole Social Security numbers, credit reports, and other confidential information. The theft has resulted in estimates of 750 cases in Los Angeles county of identity theft. Were Californians the only people to have data stolen? Most likely not, but California is the only state that has laws requiring the citizens be notified. So if you are like me and live outside California you may be a victim of identity theft and not even know it.

One more thing, how did the crackers breach security? The old fashioned way - they set up accounts as valid businesses and subscribed to ChoicePoint's services. Nothing techy involved and any credit reporting service could fall victim to this type attack.
And people wonder why I oppose new and innovative ways to collect data about me.

It is your privacy – work to protect it.