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Ontario Privacy Commissioner issues RFID guidelines JACK KAPICA - Globe and Mail VIA PrisonPlanet.com July 04, 2006 a.jpg"> Radio frequency identification tags, reviled by some and praised by others, will have to be manufactured carefully under guidelines released by Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner. Commissioner Ann Cavoukian has announced that manufacturers of RFID technology must build privacy into their RFID designs. RFID tags, a next-generation technology that improves on barcodes, contain microchips and short-range radio antennas, and are most commonly attached to products in retail stores. But they are also used to track shipments of goods around the world. In the food and produce industries, they can instantly tell management about the age and temperature of the product. RFIDs transmit a unique identifying number to an electronic reader, which links to a computer database where information about the item is stored. RFID tags may be read from a distance quickly and easily, making them useful for managing inventory. Although most tags, using current technology, cannot be read by a scanning device from a distance beyond several metres, some people are concerned that they could be used to track a person's every move, or will be able to do so in the future. But even with today's technology, they pose potential risks to privacy if they are linked to personal identifiers, Ms. Cavoukian said. The privacy commissioner has been working with EPCglobal Canada, an industry association that sets standards for electronic product codes, to create the guidelines. EPCglobal will be seeking board approval by its member companies to signify the association's endorsement of the guidelines. Ms. Cavoukian started her study of privacy and the impact new technology has on it in 2003. "I have always found it beneficial to assist those working on emerging technologies, and to be proactive whenever possible, to develop effective guidelines and codes before any problems arise," Ms. Cavoukian said in a statement. Businesses see the RFID chips as an immense cost-saving device, and are hurrying to use them as soon as possible. "This technology offers exciting benefits to consumers and businesses alike," EPCglobal CEO Art Smith said. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com "We promote an environment that encourages ongoing innovation while respecting privacy issues," he added. Although RFID technology deployed in the supply chain management process poses little threat to privacy, item-level use of RFID tags in retail stores, when linked to personally identifiable information, can help track individuals. The goal of Ms. Cavoukian's guidelines is to allay concerns about the potential threat to privacy posed by this technology and to enhance transparency about the use of RFID systems by retailers. Ms. Cavoukian has identified three principles in the manufacture and use of RFID chips. She wants the privacy focus to be placed on information systems, not RFID technologies, because the problem is not one of technology, but how it is used. Next, she said that the RFID chips must have privacy and security built into them at the design stage, when a privacy impact assessment can be made. Users of RFID technologies and information systems should address the privacy and security issues early in the design stages, and minimize the emphasis on data, especially the identifiability, observability and linkability of RFID data. Finally, she wants RFID information systems to be as open as possible, affording individuals a chance to participate and make informed decisions. The commissioner is also releasing a companion to the principles called Practical Tips for Implementing RFID Privacy Guidelines to help organizations put the guidelines into practice. The guidelines and practical tips are available on the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner's website.. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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Ontario Privacy Commissioner issues RFID guidelines

JACK KAPICA - Globe and Mail VIA PrisonPlanet.com
July 04, 2006

Canada a.jpg"> Radio frequency identification tags, reviled by some and praised by others, will have to be manufactured carefully under guidelines released by Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner.

Commissioner Ann Cavoukian has announced that manufacturers of RFID technology must build privacy into their RFID designs.

RFID tags, a next-generation technology that improves on barcodes, contain microchips and short-range radio antennas, and are most commonly attached to products in retail stores. But they are also used to track shipments of goods around the world. In the food and produce industries, they can instantly tell management about the age and temperature of the product.

RFIDs transmit a unique identifying number to an electronic reader, which links to a computer database where information about the item is stored. RFID tags may be read from a distance quickly and easily, making them useful for managing inventory.

Although most tags, using current technology, cannot be read by a scanning device from a distance beyond several metres, some people are concerned that they could be used to track a person's every move, or will be able to do so in the future.

But even with today's technology, they pose potential risks to privacy if they are linked to personal identifiers, Ms. Cavoukian said.

The privacy commissioner has been working with EPCglobal Canada, an industry association that sets standards for electronic product codes, to create the guidelines. EPCglobal will be seeking board approval by its member companies to signify the association's endorsement of the guidelines.

Ms. Cavoukian started her study of privacy and the impact new technology has on it in 2003.

"I have always found it beneficial to assist those working on emerging technologies, and to be proactive whenever possible, to develop effective guidelines and codes before any problems arise," Ms. Cavoukian said in a statement.

Businesses see the RFID chips as an immense cost-saving device, and are hurrying to use them as soon as possible. "This technology offers exciting benefits to consumers and businesses alike," EPCglobal CEO Art Smith said.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

"We promote an environment that encourages ongoing innovation while respecting privacy issues," he added.

Although RFID technology deployed in the supply chain management process poses little threat to privacy, item-level use of RFID tags in retail stores, when linked to personally identifiable information, can help track individuals.

The goal of Ms. Cavoukian's guidelines is to allay concerns about the potential threat to privacy posed by this technology and to enhance transparency about the use of RFID systems by retailers.

Ms. Cavoukian has identified three principles in the manufacture and use of RFID chips.

She wants the privacy focus to be placed on information systems, not RFID technologies, because the problem is not one of technology, but how it is used.

Next, she said that the RFID chips must have privacy and security built into them at the design stage, when a privacy impact assessment can be made. Users of RFID technologies and information systems should address the privacy and security issues early in the design stages, and minimize the emphasis on data, especially the identifiability, observability and linkability of RFID data.

Finally, she wants RFID information systems to be as open as possible, affording individuals a chance to participate and make informed decisions.

The commissioner is also releasing a companion to the principles called Practical Tips for Implementing RFID Privacy Guidelines to help organizations put the guidelines into practice.

The guidelines and practical tips are available on the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner's website..

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