I’m a

self-proclaimed and proud technology geek. I love gadgets and gizmos and

electronic doohickeys as much as anyone, and probably more than is healthy or

wise. However, I do sometimes worry that some technologies are becoming

ubiquitous parts of the electronic landscape before the impact of that

technology has been fully vetted and consensus public opinion has formed.

 

RFID tags

are one example. The tags themselves are not the problem. I understand how

these devices can be used to decrease logistical problems traditionally

associated with the manufacture, transport, and delivery of goods. Increased

efficiency means less waste and more profit – a win-win scenario in that

respect.

 

However,

this recent article

from News.com got me thinking again about the potential for exploitation and

general mischief when it comes to RFID chips. In a few years, RFID chips will

be embedded in almost every consumer product you touch. They’ll be in your

driver’s license, passport, medical insurance card, credit card, gas card; your

shopping basket at the grocery will have a tag to tell you a certain brand of

peanut butter is on sale.

 

That’s a

lot of personal information flying around in the ether – are we ready for that?

Are there safeguards in place to keep evil-doers from scanning that information

and using it in unintended ways and against my knowledge? I’m not sure that

there are – not that I’m paranoid or anything.

 

Are you

worried about this or should I just relax? After all, if there are terabytes of

data flowing around, who is going to notice little old me and my penchant for

bourbon and eggplant?