US warned against RFID

RFID technology in travel documents could harm national security and personal privacy, according to a draft report by the US department of homeland security (DHS) that relates to RFID-enabled cards proposed as alternatives to passports for people travelling across US borders with Canada and Mexico.

FCW says the DHS and other federal agencies use RFID to track and identify equipment and other goods, but the report by the department`s Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee warns that using RFID technology to track people is not a good idea.

The report says without formidable safeguards, RFID technology in identification cards and tokens could allow others to track individuals` movements, profile their activities, and manipulate identification and other information.

SmartCode has developed a low cost user approval solution to protect user privacy when using RFID enabled ID cards, passports and other short-range RFID solutions.

More RFID says the solution comprises an embedded, miniature push button, which is connected to the RFID tag`s antenna. The RFID tag cannot be read unless the user approves the tag`s reading by pressing the push button on the tag to connect the antenna and enable the RFID tag`s operation.

The simple circuit mechanism enables the user to protect against any possible threats of the RFID tag being read without permission.

The drive by the US department of defence to have all its distribution centres capable of receiving shipments with passive RFID tags has come closer to fruition with a newly awarded contract.

Washington Technology says Odin Technologies has won a contract worth up to $7 million to deploy passive RFID equipment at 26 facilities globally by the end of 2007. The contract will allow the use of passive RFID tags within the military supply chain.

Since 2005, the department has required some suppliers to add RFID tags to cases and pallets of military supplies being shipped to its two busiest distribution centres.

Sun Microsystems has created the first RFID and sensor-based Java.Net community Web site for Java developers, to help speed up the development and integration of RFID solutions.

RFID Solutions Online says the Web site gives developers access to a new community of expert colleagues, a full package of information and product demos, free RFID software, toolkits, sample source and other community resources for the creation of RFID and sensor-based products, applications and services.

RFID and sensor-based applications are being used increasingly in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, retail, health care, pharmaceuticals, transportation, logistics, aerospace and government to increase operational efficiencies, improve security and accountability of assets, and help ensure the authenticity and integrity of products.