RFID shows no significant negative impacts on privacy, says European Parliament report

Filed in archive Report on July 12, 2007

This particular report would surely help the cause of RFID which seems to be always under fire and that without being backed by any genuine facts all because of lack of knowledge among the people. I am talking about the report on RFID released by the Scientific Technology Options Assessment committee of European parliament. The report titled 'RFID and Identity Management in Everyday Life' explores the benefits, perceptions and concerns with regards to the usage of this technology among consumers, end users and vendors in Europe. Rathenau Institute which is an independent Dutch organization has researched and written this particular report. The study was conducted as a part of research with regards to social, economic and environmental aspects of new technological and scientific developments. This mission of the study is to offer insights into how RFID has been implemented up till now and create a scenario as to how the usage and capability of the technology will be expanded in the years to come.

The conclusion of the report pinpoints that up till now there has been no significant negative impacts of this technology on the privacy of the people carrying these tags in Europe whether voluntarily or involuntarily but it also states that it could be misused in a certain manner which could have implications on its privacy and also talks about the transparency aspect required. I hope this report goes a long way in allying down the fear associated with RFID. Click here to read the full report.