Department of Homeland Security looking to develop super-RFID tags?

A rather alarmist new book on RFID tagging has recently hit store shelves (you can pretty much guess the authors' position on tagging from the title of the book- "Spychips") which claims to have uncovered a "plot" by the Department of Homeland security to invent a more precise flavor of chip for remote tracking of individuals. Privacy advocates and Spychips authors Katherine Albrecht and Liz McIntyre say they have discovered a Request for Information issued by the DHS calling for "significant improvements in performance" over the current tech with respect to "superior remote data capture." Specifically, the document supposedly calls for a solution that can identify individual people sitting among others in a car or bus, without any special action on the part of the surveyed, at distances up to 25-feet. Instead of jumping through all these hoops to come up with an invasive yet implausible technology (lead passport wallets, anyone?), it would seem a lot easier for the government to just pass a law confining us all to our homes, turning the whole "tracking" thing into a non-issue.

[Via The Wireless Report]

[EatingPie @ Feb 24th 2006 7:06PM]

"(lead passport wallets, anyone?)"

Could it be that you've stumbled upon the reason they'll be required as implants? This certainly strikes the very paranoid in me as highly plausible.

-Pie

[Dave @ Feb 24th 2006 7:43PM]

Come on. Confining people to their homes? Gee, why doesn't China try that?

Unfortunately, that would destroy the economy. It'd be much better if you could single out the trouble-makers and keep everyone else working.

[guy @ Feb 24th 2006 8:01PM]

In my opinion i wouldnt mind at all if one day we had to be implanted with tiny chips in order to identify people a lot easier and be able to track others movements. You know how much crime can be prevented. In my family (not immediate only) alone we have experienced 6 experiences where police couldnt track down or capture criminals that committed crimes against us. I myself one. I'd gladly wear a chip along with anyone else if it meant making the country a whole lot more safer..

[travis @ Feb 24th 2006 8:24PM]

#2:

You un-American statist weasle. You're so scared of the criminals on the street that you'll cowardly surrender your God given freedoms to the criminals in government. A chipped populace? You don't see tyrrany right around the corner? Go brush up on your history regarding what made this country what it is.

[Master Chief @ Feb 24th 2006 8:51PM]

there are good things and bad things about it one the government would know where you are. but the good thing is if something bad is going down and you wind up dead they would find you alot faster unless the suspect prys the chip out of you then your pretty much screwed.

[paranoid @ Feb 24th 2006 9:06PM]

Please, for all that are paranoid,The "Government" does not care about the average citizen,(I have a friend who works in that department)they laugh at all these people who think they are going to see there every move, but they are interested in watching the high interest groups, These "Groups" are the reason why it is even being considered to "TAG" everyone, Just imagine if we did not have these "Extremist Groups", nobody in the Government would consider it?,There will always be checks & balance when it comes to these devices, Only the paranoid and guilty need to worry about it.
I would have no problem getting "Tagged", I live a Honest, Law abiding life, and I know for a "Fact" that the Government would bore themselves looking at my life, If this is what it takes to make sure we have a higher chance of Security, its a small price to pay, Everyone see's the Government as a small group of people planning to control everyone, but what we forget is the Government is made up of Hundred of thousands of People(Good and Bad)and only the easily amused would be interested in the average person, The Guilty, Groups of high interest would be the ones to watch, and those are the people who are against this new idea of Security.

[guano @ Feb 24th 2006 10:50PM]

Ok, so maybe the government won't abuse this truly invasive power we will have given them. But you can be sure that other people will figure out how to use it, and these people won't be using it for our "safety".

[Dave @ Feb 25th 2006 12:17AM]

paranoid,

You know nothing of history. Governments have always tried to increase control as they grow. Mao and Hitler both supported gun control. When the criminals make the laws, the people become the criminals. It sounds as though you would happily live in a dictatorship--as long as your dictator was "just".

Your use of language suggests that either your primary language is not English--or you're not much of a "reader". I suggest that you leave the thinking to the literate.

[Larry D @ Feb 25th 2006 12:25AM]

I can't wait until the next season of 24 when they use this technology flawlessly to save America again.

[Spec @ Feb 25th 2006 12:44AM]

All you that would agree to chip the population are sick fucks! So tell me guy, when all six of your family members had crimes perpetrated against them, did you scan the perp? Take a picture of them? Ask for a copy of their already existing state issued ID? What in the world makes you think having everyone chipped makes *ANYONE* any safer let alone *PREVENT* anything? (Lets forget for the sake of argument the logistics of chipping 295,734,134 people, and installing enough readers to make such a system end somewhat effective) In a chipped world you'll still be a victim (hey! what a great way to identify your body!) with no more information about the perp than you've had in the past. Why? Crooks are going to replace, remove, or destroy their chip! For the rest of us anonymity will be gone. Soon to follow will be anonymous speech and political protest for fear of being marked on some list or database. Papers? Papers? Don't need 'em anymore. When they come to get you for your [race|religion|political beliefs|genetic profile|over due library book], they'll know *right* where to find you. The guy who car jacked you and raped your wife? Who knows. These things happen.

It's attitudes like these that are sending this country into the toilet. Over 500,000 American solders died in WWI and WWII defending FREEDOM for this country. Those that would give up those rights so that can *FEEL* safer SHIT on the graves of each and every one of those that fell. All of you should be ashamed for so nonchalantly dismissing the ultimate sacrifices of so many young Americans.

You are naive for believing that mass monitoring would lead to a safer America. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely! You are condoning the same soviet style tactics the right has been using to frighten us since the 50's. Phone taps (up 85% since 9/11) without warrants, searches on the subway, video cameras everywhere (ok, those *do* make us safer, but what about cameras in the home proposed this week in Texas?), databases on everyone. Now a govt request for RFID readable at a distance with the intended application of monitoring American citizens? Are you NUTS!? We're being watched and our actions are being logged (cell phones, credit cards, rental cars, and soon RFID) all day, every day as it is now. Who is watching the watchers? Without oversight and laws to protect us from abuse we're setting ourselves up for a BIG hurt. Why haven't any of us learned from those we loathe throughout recent history? Nazi Germany, Cold war Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba. Our leadership is heading us there and we�re next. There *ARE* things we should fear in this country, but they are not the bogey men we have been sold. It is stolen elections, unchecked power, secret government agendas, secret torture camps and never ending wars. As has been mentioned in this thread, we're honest and law abiding citizens. *WE* are NOT the problem. Why the need for all the draconian measures? The real question we should be asking is, what are *THEY* afraid of?

"The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be." - Lao Tsu (6th century B.C.)

[acidreflux @ Feb 25th 2006 12:44AM]

"it would seem a lot easier for the government to just pass a law confining us all to our homes, turning the whole "tracking" thing into a non-issue."

Yeah, but if they make me start standing in line for toilet paper, I am just going to have to draw the line.

[Dave @ Feb 25th 2006 12:56AM]

Well said, Spec. It's good to know that there are still people out there paying attention.

[Sean G @ Feb 25th 2006 1:25AM]

Wow #10. One hell of a rant. I completely agree; however I question your expenditure of effort on a comment in a tech-blog (I kid I kid).

I do think that the vast majority of those in government NOW have altruistic motives, it is the appointees that replace them, or the next generation that has me concerned. Do you really think the so-called "War on Terror" will ever end? Once the government has these sweeping powers it will never release them. And one day they WILL be abused.

[Bryan W @ Feb 25th 2006 2:45AM]

This would be much more comfortable than lead wallets
http://www.emvelope.com

[LiveItNerd @ Feb 25th 2006 3:17AM]

While RFID tags that can be read from a range of 25-feet is a bit of over kill and could be used for all sorts of bad, the idea of a universal international passive ID would be good I think. One that incorporates things like vehicle and firearm liceses as well as certificatins for employers to check etc. It would only be a good thing for those of us who are law abiding.

Besides, why go for RFID implants! Isn't DNA enough?? Someone mugs you, all you need to do is scratch them or similar and get some of their DNA to get them tracked now. What's not to say that the government isn't keeping a log of everyones DNA at birth when a child's initial blood works are done? With the Internet it wouldn't be that hard for them to monitor the results of the pathology labs!

I go with this theory, I'm not doing anything wrong, so if the goverment wants to waste money on survelence then be my guest but your going to get bored REALLY quickly!

LiveItNerd

[Dave @ Feb 25th 2006 3:58AM]

Do we not have Osama bin Laden's DNA? Is that the problem? Have we failed to chip all the terrorists? Is that what's going on in the world? I am a FREE American citizen--and I intend to stay that way. I wish those of you who want to be tracked like an endangeres species would just go off and live together somewhere else. I promise to tune into Discovery Channel and observe you from time to time.

[Johnny C @ Feb 25th 2006 8:51AM]

@guy

Well I would, and many other people would have an issue with giving up personal freedoms for "security".

RFIDs exist mainly for marketing purposes, and that is exactly what they would be used for. Your information would not be kept solely in the safe hands of authorities (if you consider that a safe place).

There has always been a sacrifice to maintain a free society that everyone can been proud of, and people have died to protect.

It would be very foolish to voluntarily throw away personal freedoms. It's a wonderful gift that is so rare in this world.

[John Schaefer @ Feb 25th 2006 9:56AM]

"Lead"?

Ummm, someday when you want to be a revolutionary and avoid having your own implanted chip be trackable from 25 feet, you'd better hope that you're getting tech support from someone that knows the relevant engineering better than you.

Think copper or aluminum, i.e. something with high electrical conductivity, in Faraday-cage configuration. There are other techniques, but usually that's the simplest.

Lead's only relevant for tagging that's readable with X-rays or other ionizing radiation...but that's a whole different ballgame, technology-wise.

[David @ Feb 25th 2006 12:13PM]

Why are people so stupid that they think the government will be fair and use this technology in an ethical way? Look at what is happening around you, America!

Idiot said:

"There will always be checks & balance when it comes to these devices, Only the paranoid and guilty need to worry about it."

[Chris Walker @ Feb 25th 2006 12:13PM]

Alarmist is a good description. I can't think think of any technology that shouldn't have been looked at for both benefits and pitfalls...and this one should as well. A thoughtful rebuttal to this book should be read by all:
http://www.packagedrfid.com/spychips_rebuttal.pdf
By the way, read the book Spychips!
The biggest problem with people who make the rules are the rule-makers who put in exceptions for themselves.

[Kevin @ Feb 25th 2006 2:21PM]

Wasn't it Benjamin Franklin who said...

"Those who would sacrifice freedom for temporary security deserve neither"

[^_^ @ Feb 25th 2006 2:57PM]

to post #2:
so can we eliminate the government? they are prime suspect for being the biggest troublemakers

[Fred Thompson @ Feb 25th 2006 3:32PM]

Uh...DHS will have far less to do with this than a consumer society. This type of RFID tag would make it a lot easier to determine the contents inside a pallet of goods or inside a box without physical inspection.

[Dave @ Feb 25th 2006 3:40PM]

Dear ^_^,

Pleae re-read my post. I don't think you understood it. I seriously doubt any implanted chips would be used by common citizens to track government officials. I am suggesting that the inverse is a more likely scenario.

[Dave @ Feb 25th 2006 3:47PM]

Actually...maybe I misunderstood your post. Sorry.

[BoZs13 @ Feb 25th 2006 5:22PM]

Oh my goodness, Spec

I love you man! Those few paragraphs that you wrote there sound like they are coming straight from my head to the computer screen. You nailed my feelings right on! Good job!!! I have triple citizenship (us, can, switzerland) and I can see what is happening. Only fully ignorant righties would agree to this being a great idea. Look at history people!!!

Leo,

[Liz McIntyre @ Feb 25th 2006 8:31PM]

The Department of Homeland Security Request for Information is real. We have a link to the document in our press release located here:
http://www.spychips.com/press-releases/dhs-rfid.html

Bruce Sterling, Wired technology commentator and sci fi icon, wrote the foreword to our book "Spychips." You can read the entire foreword and view some of the critics' comments about our book here:
http://www.spychips.com/book/book_splash-links.html

You can also read a brand new review of our book at Blogcritics here:
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/02/25/180914.php

Evan, we'd love to send you a copy of the book. Please contact me.

-Liz McIntyre, co-author of "Spychips: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track Your Every Move with RFID"

[Xzavier @ Feb 26th 2006 1:19AM]

I defiantly agree with Travis, Dave and especially Spec.

Seriously though, nobody should have any RFID installed in them on even on ANY merchandise since companies seemed not to be too interested in how to turn off those chips after they leave there premises! I would be VERY interesting to see if we could get a vote.... and not a 2000 presidential election vote :D as towards the country having RFID chips in them and everything in there homes, but the catch is you STILL never know where anything is because RFID is not for YOU to use, just for corporations and governments, if you need to find something in your home or if Spot just happen to run away/get lost you need to call 1-800-RFID-MEe. RFID is not here for your purpose/safty / security. It is here for your MASTERS to know where there Property/Merchandise are, aka people.

I dont care what anybody says about how RFID will help you find people, things, or whatever they lost, or trying to track down that imaginary criminal that is about to violate you in some way because there is a CRIME epidemic here in AMERICA and RFID is going to help stop that epidemic! All I know is this... When I loose my remote to the TV, I dont care what type of technology is on the MARKET, I will NEVER walk 10'-30' turn the channel on my TV, BUT... I will go crazy for hours looking for that remote CONTROL beforeI ever go to change the channel, strange huh? Now how the hell is RFID gonna make my life better by finding that remote?

Anywho... as Mr. T once said... I Pity the FOOL that's gonna try to tag me with that RFID. Hey, did he say that?

Also personally I think everybody in here that thinks RFID is a good thing to have inside of ya because you just might get lost if you are walking down the street or something and then you realize that you have no idea where you are and you dont have some sort of GPS device on you even though your cell phone has GPS in itfor government/corporations to use to know where you are but you cant use dont know where you are and your the guy who bought it in the first place... thats funny! Or God forbid something PRIMITIVE like a MAP or stopping to look at a street sign or maybe ask a person where you are??? You definitely dont know what trading liberty for security is, or you do know what it is and your just here posting comments to see what comments are going to be posted back. Not nice

as Thomas Jefferson said... Every generation needs a new revolution!!!

[Dick Barber @ Feb 26th 2006 3:00AM]

I don't have anything to hide.
Only the bad guys need to worry about more security.

Its true. But, who is the bad guy is not fixed in stone.

All countries and governments have a long history of redefining who is the bad guy and what is the wrong thing to do. Perhaps you are the good guy today. I hope so.

Are you so sure you will never be considered the odd one out -- the one who needs to be watched? The Bad Guy?

Before answering, remember -- you have to be sure for the rest of your life. Things change and values change the fastest. The good guy today may have been the bad guy in the past. Let's see.

In the past, you were a bad guy if you:
had certain opinions (peace/war),
kept a gun (piston/rifle/assault weapon),
had a particular religion (Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Muslum),
were a particular color (pick one),
supported a political party (pick one).

Are you still so sure you will be a good guy forever? In fact, are you still a good guy today? Are all your friends still good guys, too -- cause if they are of interest, the trending analysis will link them to you.

When I look at these technologies, I don't just look at the intended use today; I look at how these technologies would have been used yesterday, last year, and a hundred years ago. That tells me how they will be used tomorrow and next year.

Dissent and difference is almost always punished. And, over time, we are all in the minority.

These devices allow the suppression and restraint of the currently unpopular by whoever is in power and are dangerous for all of us; its only a matter of time.

The past is prologue.

[Le Derec Caden @ Feb 27th 2006 11:10AM]

This is why we have the Tagzapper

Comming soon!

[Le Derec Caden @ Feb 27th 2006 11:14AM]

All the emails we are getting for the TZ and saved. We will email you all back once we are ready with the product. Thank you, TZ

[truthfulwon124 @ Jun 15th 2008 6:57PM]

The bible foretells of this event. REVELATIONS 13:16-18. And he causeth all,both small and great, rich and poor,free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or foreheads:
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (666)

The bible foretells of this very event. So pretty soon you will need to choose a side if you are left behind. Your choice will be to take the mark and serve the antichrist or death. In which case you will go with GOD.

We are living in a time where biblical prophesy is being fulfilled. So while many people will choose not to believe. It will happen and I pray if you are here during this time you make the right choice.

When you go to buy food you will need to show your hand or your forehead. Society as you know it will be gone. It will be a time of total devastation and ungodliness.

JESUS IS COMING SOON!

The bible says: "For GOD so loved the world he have his only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. JOHN 3:16