One Privacy Solution: Tags That Can Go to Silent Mode

Filed in archive Privacy and Security on December 16, 2005

A few months ago I wrote about Obivision (Open Business Innovation) and its approach to RFID privacy.

Using Obivision's technology, the concept is simple: RFID tags would freely transfer data while an item is in the supply chain. However, once the item goes to the consumer at the point of sale, the tags would be switched to "privacy mode" and the consumer is in control. The tags broadcast no data unless the consumer wants them to.

Stephan Engberg, the head of Obivision, makes the point that the privacy debate does not have to be an either/or kind of debate: either RFID or privacy. Instead, he says that we can get the business benefits of RFID while still allowing consumers to protect themselves from the threat of invasion of privacy that might come from uncontrolled RFID tags.

Recently he pointed me to a European Union Commision working group that sought comments from around the world on RFID technology and privacy.

Stephan submitted his own Comments to the working group and noted to me: "I think you will find my input interesting. I honestly don't see, what the privacy fuss is about. *** As Nike say - Just do it (right)."

Read his comments to the EU working group on RFID and privacy (PDF).