Editing Radio-frequency identification (section)

===Privacy===
The use of RFID has engendered considerable controversy and some [[consumer privacy]] advocates have initiated product [[boycott]]s. Consumer privacy experts [[Katherine Albrecht]] and [[Liz McIntyre (writer)|Liz McIntyre]] are two prominent critics of the "spychip" technology. The two main privacy concerns regarding RFID are as follows:{{Citation needed|reason=See talk page|date=July 2021}}
* As the owner of an item may not necessarily be aware of the presence of an RFID tag and the tag can be read at a distance without the knowledge of the individual, sensitive data may be acquired without consent.
* If a tagged item is paid for by credit card or in conjunction with use of a [[loyalty card]], then it would be possible to indirectly deduce the identity of the purchaser by reading the globally unique ID of that item contained in the RFID tag. This is a possibility if the person watching also had access to the loyalty card and credit card data, and the person with the equipment knows where the purchaser is going to be.

Most concerns revolve around the fact that RFID tags affixed to products remain functional even after the products have been purchased and taken home; thus, they may be used for [[surveillance]] and other purposes unrelated to their supply chain inventory functions.<ref>Markus Hansen, Sebastian Meissner: [https://tepin.aiki.de/blog/uploads/2007-hansen-meissner-tracking-epc-rfid-ifip.pdf Identification and Tracking of Individuals and Social Networks using the Electronic Product Code on RFID Tags], IFIP Summer School, Karlstad, 2007, [https://tepin.aiki.de/blog/uploads/20070807-ifip-hansen-meissner-tracking-rfid-epc.pdf Slides].</ref>

The RFID Network responded to these fears in the first episode of their syndicated cable TV series, saying that they are unfounded, and let RF engineers demonstrate how RFID works.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://0y3v.errandrunner.org/onbqfGf|title=How to read data from rfid reader|website=0y3v.errandrunner.org|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> They provided images of RF engineers driving an RFID-enabled van around a building and trying to take an inventory of items inside. They also discussed satellite tracking of a passive RFID tag.

The concerns raised may be addressed in part by use of the [[Clipped Tag]]. The Clipped Tag is an RFID tag designed to increase privacy for the purchaser of an item. The Clipped Tag has been suggested by [[IBM]] researchers [[Paul Moskowitz]] and Guenter Karjoth. After the point of sale, a person may tear off a portion of the tag. This allows the transformation of a long-range tag into a proximity tag that still may be read, but only at short range&nbsp;– less than a few inches or centimeters. The modification of the tag may be confirmed visually. The tag may still be used later for returns, recalls, or recycling.

However, read range is a function of both the reader and the tag itself. Improvements in technology may increase read ranges for tags. Tags may be read at longer ranges than they are designed for by increasing reader power. The limit on read distance then becomes the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal reflected from the tag back to the reader. Researchers at two security conferences have demonstrated that passive Ultra-HighFID tags normally read at ranges of up to 30 feet can be read at ranges of 50 to 69 feet using suitable equipment.<ref>[http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/000798.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928040106/http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/000798.html|date=September 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2005/07/_defcon_rfid_wo.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207081350/http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2005/07/_defcon_rfid_wo.html|date=February 7, 2009}}</ref>

In January 2004, privacy advocates from CASPIAN and the German privacy group [[digitalcourage|FoeBuD]] were invited to the METRO Future Store in Germany, where an RFID pilot project was implemented. It was uncovered by accident that METRO "Payback" customer [[loyalty card]]s contained RFID tags with customer IDs, a fact that was disclosed neither to customers receiving the cards, nor to this group of privacy advocates. This happened despite assurances by METRO that no customer identification data was tracked and all RFID usage was clearly disclosed.<ref>{{cite web|title = The METRO "Future Store" Special Report|publisher = Spychips|author1 = Katherine Albrecht|author2 = Liz McIntyre|url = http://www.spychips.com/metro/overview.html|access-date = 2005-05-05|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050508083244/http://www.spychips.com/metro/overview.html|archive-date = 2005-05-08}}</ref>

During the UN [[World Summit on the Information Society]] (WSIS) in November 2005, [[Richard Stallman]], the founder of the [[free software movement]], protested the use of RFID security cards by covering his card with aluminum foil.<ref>{{cite web|title = The WSIS in Tunis|author = Richard M Stallman|url = http://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/entry-20060125.html|publisher=Fsf.org|access-date=2013-09-22}}</ref>

In 2004–2005, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] staff conducted a workshop and review of RFID privacy concerns and issued a report recommending best practices.<ref>{{cite web|title=Radio Frequency Identification: Applications and Implications for Consumers|date=March 2005|url= http://www.ftc.gov/os/2005/03/050308rfidrpt.pdf|publisher=Ftc.gov|access-date=2013-09-22}}</ref>

RFID was one of the main topics of the 2006 [[Chaos Communication Congress]] (organized by the [[Chaos Computer Club]] in [[Berlin]]) and triggered a large press debate. Topics included electronic passports, Mifare cryptography and the tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2006. Talks showed how the first real-world mass application of RFID at the 2006 FIFA Football World Cup worked. The group [[monochrom]] staged a "Hack RFID" song.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.monochrom.at/rfid/|title = R F I D|author = monochrom|access-date = 2007-01-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100220122421/http://www.monochrom.at/rfid/|archive-date = 2010-02-20}}</ref>