By Jo Best, 21 July 2003 14:34
NEWS Consumer group Caspian is challenging Gillette over its trial of RFID technology on packs of Mach3 razors, now in place in supermarkets in the UK and the US. Caspian Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering has taken issue with the company's 'smart shelf' system, and are demanding an explanation. The Gillette tracking system senses when a product is removed from the shelf and takes a photograph of the shopper, which is then compared to another snap taken when the razors reach the checkout. One such system was found to be in operation in a Massachusetts Wal-Mart supermarket, but it was removed shortly after Caspian queried its presence in the shop. Katherine Albrecht, founder and director of Caspian, said in a statement that the organisation's members "want assurances from Gillette that they will clearly label their consumer products which contain RFID devices. Photographing and tracking of consumers without their consent is unacceptable". A similar system was also found to be in operation in the UK, in a Tesco store in Cambridge. While RFID supporters and retailers claim radio tracking technology is essential to maintain stock levels and avoid waste, civil liberties groups are worried the technology could be put to a more sinister use: the US defense department is said to be keen to develop the technology.
Comments
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1. anonymous
aren't we being a little paranoid or are we trying to justify stealing razor blades. You're in a store, you're in the public, you're on the web. GET A LIFE!
2. jdf
the problem is not with stopping shoplifters. the problem is that the surveillance will not stop there. soon the rfid chips will be in your credit cards, money, woven into your clothing, and in some way on everything you touch. do you really want to walk at a distance of 20-25 feet from a scanner and have it being able to read how much money you have, what items you've purchased, where, and for how much? this is not the end, my friend. the end is much more disgusting than pictures taken in retail stores.
3. Ron just Ron
I'll leave the privacy invasion issue to others for comment.
Instead, I limit my comments to two questions. #1 - What is identified by RFID? #2 - Who is privy to this identification?
First consider UPC labels, which are in current use. UPC label identifies two things: manufacturer of the product (by lefthand digits), and the particular product (by righthand digits). Digits are read: via bars for machine read identification, and via numerals for eye read identification. Thus, everybody is privy to the identification of manufacturer and product. For example, digits 37000 for manufacturer identification identify Proctor and Gamble.
Perhaps you wish to boycott all Proctor and Gamble products. Jot down 37000 on your shopping list and go shopping. If lefthand digits of a UPC label show 37000, choose and alternate product by some other manufacturer. Perhaps you wish to favor products by a particular manufacturer. Jot down the 5-digit manufacturer identification on your shopping list and go shopping.
With RFID there is no easy means for consumers to boycott or favor a manufacturer. In other words, the consumer is not privy to the identification that RFID provides. Given how RFID has been combined with surveillance equipment, it appears the goal is to identify the consumer! Any business owner who ever has assessed the cost to prosecute an apprehended shoplifter knows that RFID is not about shoplifting -- that much is plain.
-= Ron =-
4. MadAmerican
Its not about being parnoid, its about how far can companys or other organazations justify prying, spying on the peoples personal lives for the sake of tech information or to supposely improve their busniess needs, come on now, how far are yoou going to let this go before you relize you have allowed them into your house and you can't even have time alone in your own home let alone the your bathroom, wake up, before all the freedoms we are use to are gone.
5. mustafa armagan
this is incredible case. I support your campaign and I abondoned use to Gilette Mach3. thanks for your attention.
6. Lumberjohn
Who cares if they take a picture of me! They had better not try to use it however, unless they are willing to pay me for using my image!
Lets face it, no matter what you try and do, the world will continue to migrate towards this technology, not because of Terrorism, not because of Defense, not because of greedy marketers, but...
Because you will soon all be senile and unable to remember all of those PIN numbers in your head!
Think of what it will be like in your 'eighties' trying to keep those greedy kids away from your PIN# that you can't remember all of the time.
Grey power will become Big Brother because no other people in all of human history have had to rely so much on secret I.D.'s and passswords, but have so far, neglected their aging brains.
Besides, what's wrong with having one of these grains imbedded subcutaneously in your body somewhere, so that people can identify who you are. Why, you could be like that guy on that old Amex commercial, coming out of the ocean stark naked, and able to walk up to an ABM and take out money because you have the same chip that is in rovers neck.