I'D RATHER GO NAKED!

NewsWithViews.com ^ | March 13, 2003 | Mary Starrett

[fight_truth_decay]

Fashion designers from New York to Milan have filled the runways in recent weeks with all the latest Spring looks. Hemlines are up, heel heights are down and pink is all the rage. But regardless of what you think of this season's haute couture you should be made aware of a trend that's catching on... it could make you think twice before buying new clothes. Tiny specks capable of tracking virtually every single item are now being imbedded by manufacturers. This Orwellian technology, called RFID (radio frequency ID) will now be used by Italian clothing designer Benetton in the form of trackable chips woven into it's apparel. The chips, which function as itty bitty radio transmitters will be inserted when the clothes are made and will remain intact throughout the life of the garment. According to chip manufacturer Philips Electronics, the devices will be "imperceptible" to the wearer.

Sound like something out of a futuristic sci-fi thriller? Welcome to your brave, new world.

Benetton is not alone in implementing this frighteningly invasive technology. Gillette has already purchased 500 million of these tracking devices and starting in July will imbed them in shaving cream and razors sold at Wal Mart stores. The chipped items will sit atop "smart" shelves that will work in unison with the chipped products to tell Gillette and Wal Mart all kinds of things; and the info-gathering doesn't end there. As an extra added bonus ,when shoppers take their Big Brother -branded purchases home (and wherever RFID "readers" are located,) their purchase will be tracked. RFID Journal touts the technology as a way to eliminate bar codes, cut down on labor costs and theft and says it will be a boon to inventory control.

The founder and director of a group called C.A.S.P.I.A.N. (Consumers Against Privacy Invasion And Numbering) sees it differently. Katherine Albrecht, a Harvard University doctoral candidate says what Benetton, Gillette and over 90 of the world's biggest corporations are doing, in essence, is "registering" those products to you. Albrecht has been warning us about this for years. She says consumers have no idea that these RFID chips actually track the owner .. " then anytime you (go) near an RFID reader device the (product) would beam out your identity to anyone with access to a database - all without your permission".

Think this is waaaay out there? It's not. According to a 2001 INFORMATIONWEEK article on the RFID scheme, proponents are looking ahead to a seamless, network of millions of RFID receivers in airports, stores and even your home. And remember, you can't turn these things off.

Benetton, which had sales of over $2 billion last year apparently thinks spending the 25 cents to 50 cents per chip will be money well -spent. The company has ordered 15 million chips for starters. So along with your mock turtleneck you'll be getting an RFID gizmo which operates at 13.56 MHz, and stores 512 bits of information. RFID Journal says "unless there is a big public outcry, Benetton is not going to be the last retailer to adopt RFID".

Did you get that? IF NOBODY GETS UPSET ABOUT THIS IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN! Don't just SIT there, DO something...Be part of that "big public outcry" they doubt will happen 'cause you're either catatonic from too much TV, or you just plain don't care.

Know that the likes of Kimberly Clarke, Coca- Cola, Philip Morris, Target, the U.S. Department Of Defense and the United States Postal Service (just think of the implications of THAT!) are watching this Benetton thing very carefully. They're poised to begin their own chipping programs in the not-too-distant future.

Where is all this technology coming from? From the brilliant minds at MIT's Auto-ID Center. In just a few years the center has raked in tons of money from some heavy-duty global corporations who are raring to go on this. The effects of this RFID technology are truly chilling. Consumers wouldn't be able to escape the watchful eye of manufacturers, retailers and marketers. Law enforcement would have a field day with this as well. Individual's behavior could be monitored to the nth degree.

So what can YOU do about it?

Spread the word. Boycott Benetton.... (Gillette, too, while you're at it) and make sure they know you've stopped buying their products and WHY.

Get educated. Check out C.A.S.P.I.A.N.'s web site: at http://www.nocards.org/. It's a good place to start.

Call your local media (radio talk show hosts, newspaper editors, TV stations).

And think about going naked. Katherine Albrecht has. She says "I'd rather go naked than wear clothes with spy chips".

As for me, I have no problem wearing the old stuff I have hanging in my closet. I might not make any new fashion statements but I'll be making a statement that doesn't ever go out of style in a free society. My statement's summed very well in something called the 4th Amendment.

Related Articles: Benetton Clothing To Carry Tiny Tracking Transmitters AP

Mary Starrett was on television for 21 years as a news anchor, morning talk show host and medical reporter. For the last 5 years she hosted a radio program. Mary is a frequent guest on radio talk shows. E-Mail M123STAR@aol.com

[BlueLancer]

"You are to cut down the mightiest tree in the forest!
With!
A Herring!"

You must return here with a shrubbery, or else, you will never pass through this wood... alive.
One that looks nice.
And not too expensive.

[L,TOWM]

C'mon---You know how things work around here---This is another "AntiChrist/Globafascist/Conspiracy to record my bowel movements" thread. YOU ARE SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED FROM APPLYING CRITICAL THINKING, LOGIC, AND REASON IN POSTING HEREIN.

[P.O.E.]

Bump for my favorite movie.

[longtermmemmory]

Ok so if I pop it in the microwave will it defeat the transmitter? How does one electronically sterilize the offending garments? Will the materials be included in shaving cream itself? Are the manufacturers obligated to disclose the use of the devices?

Would a tinfoil lined shopping bag defeat security tracking?

[wbill]

If this chip does broadcast generic info (likely a SKU number, or barcode) who cares.

Not to put my tinfoil hat on here, but.....

If the chip broadcasts a unique number, and that number is linked to the credit card that purchases it (very easy), then you have a simple way of being tracked anywhere.

[jt8d]

More info: Search "Digital Angel" a company that has designed and released self-sustaining micro-chip implants, ostensibly to track kidnap victims, and high-risk government officials. Oracle was pursuing a similar design.

The Digital Angel corporation had set their goal to increase the scanning/tracking capability of their implants in both RANGE and ACCURACY, by using GPS.

There is a similar program being developed by the US military, for real-time battlefield assessment, using implantable chips within the rank and file troops. Again, this technology uses GPS. Have not found much information on the project.

Also, you may find interesting the mobile phone network that was being established by Motorolla several years ago... I do not recall the project name, but the system used a network of several hundered LEO satellites (to the best of my recollection). These units were very small, approx 1 meter square, orbiting at about 400 miles. LEO allows for more precise tracking of targets, and is less prone to space-junk/micro meteor damage. I do not know if the system is operational, or whether the satellites were allowed to begin orbital decay when Motorolla signed-off the project.

[L,TOWM]

I will appeal the punishment--BL did not LET OUT this critical element of our World Domination(tm) effort, merely pointed out that certain "clear thinkers" had discovered us. I believe we need to refer this case to our local 88th degree FReeMason to sort it out.

In the menatime, who was supposed to bring the hors d'ouevres to the next CFR meeting?

[Conspiracy Guy]

Queue Music, "We'll meet again, Don't know where, Don't know when, But I .....

[L,TOWM]

Rainwater and pure grain alcohol...

Yeah, that'll get you nuts.

[L,TOWM]

Magnets. Really Big Magnets...

[longtermmemmory]

how about raidoshack's electromagnet bulk eraser? Would that really get rid of ROM based information?

It seems that a smart manufacturer would have "chip free" clothing. Since we had such a scare with cancer pods from power lines, how would this reflected EMR for the transmitter affect children.

[fight_truth_decay]

Phone rings: Hello?

Caller: I know what you're weaarring !

[L,TOWM]

LMCO

[BlueLancer]

"In the menatime, who was supposed to bring the hors d'ouevres to the next CFR meeting?"

I am ... I will be bringing baked Pickled Raisin-Olive-Thyme-Oregano Crepes On Limberger Slices ...

I call it the "PROTOCOLS of the Elders of Zion".

Member in Good Standing
AMEN CORNER HATCHET TEAM
and
THE NASTY LITTLE CLIQUE

[L,TOWM]

>>>>>baked Pickled Raisin-Olive-Thyme-Oregano Crepes On Limberger Slices ... <<<<<<

For that minty fresh breath...

[jt8d]

Thermo-electrics - lithium battery recharged through differential temperature gradients to produce electrical charges. This concept, developed by Digital Angel corporation, is what gives implantable chips their lifetime operational cycle. (BTW the two most prominant locations in the human body where rapid temperature gradients occur frequently are the forehead and back of the wrist.)

I think it reasonable to assert that the technology can be adapted to operate on temperature differentials that exist outside the body, such as would occur under ambient conditions. Considering that these devices, if lying close to the skin, as would be the case in under-clothing, but being simultaneously exposed to relativly cooler ambient temperatures, would experience very high temperature gradients.

[Hildy]

This is NOT so crazy. I believe it. Did you see the movie MINORITY REPORT, where stores scan your eyeballs and mannequins know your name when you enter the store and tell you the things you like to buy????? I hope I'm dead before that happens. And I truly believe it will.

[Salgak]

The problem is, you go home, you can cut the bar-code off. The RFID tag is embedded in the clothing itself. . .

[freeeee]

This is another "AntiChrist/Globafascist/Conspiracy to record my bowel movements" thread.

No, this is another "new technology to spy on us" thread.

Fact: Advancing technology makes widespread surveillance logistically and economically feasible.

Fact: Privacy today is at an all time low, and is only getting much, much worse at an alarming rate.

Fact: Every single bit of technology currently used for these intrusive and questionable purposes was implemented for some benign purpose, then expanded.

I can give example after example of this to prove these claims: SSN, red light cameras, DNA analysis, credit ratings, databases, EZ-Pass, etc... have all been used for surveillance beyond their original intent.

After years and years of seeing the same exact methods used to pry and spy into our lives, a clear pattern of abuse is evident to all but the most obtuse person. Are we not supposed to notice this, and not take alarm as it continues?

Enter you and a couple other jokers to this thread. Perfectly rational and logical concerns about rapidly disappearing privacy are spun into wild eyed conspiracy theories. Very real observations about rampant privacy abuses are to be seen as absurd as Elvis sightings and alien abductions. The only people on this thread to entertain such bizaar thoughts have been those in favor of this new technology.

I suspect you do this to discredit us, and to make us look like fools for taking the time to express concern for our liberty. Well, now I've come right out and called you on it. You can debate the very real privacy issues at stake here, or continue with your juvenile illuminati and tin foil hat jokes. Just don't expect anyone to take you seriously.

[L,TOWM]

I reccomend walking around with a magnet suspended over your head, with the open end just off the ground (by the slightest margin available). This will also make sure that the mind control rays are scrambled before they reflect off of the shiny surface of your AFDB.

Just stay clear of cars, busses, bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, scrap metal yards, and electronic oriented firms. The influence your new personality will create could add unneeded weight to your reasonable precautions, and in the case of the electronic firms, may expose you to civil damage torts (or physical violence).