[FeeinTennessee]

I have been talking about this subject on RFID tracking devices much lately. I thought to put this article up to get people thinking about what's going on. Here's a few more articles I have found on the subject...it raises eyebrows. This is going on behind the scenes until "they" want to put this out on the public. We should be concerned: http://www.rfida.com/nb/walmtag.htm http://www.globalchange.com/skinchip.htm If you are a Christian, you know where this is heading. Please let people know about this. --Fee

[George from New England]

Why we don't want supermarket discount/tracking scan cards...

http://www.computerbytesman.com/privacy/safewaycard.htm

by Richard M. Smith
http://www.ComputerBytesMan.com
Jan. 28, 2005

Tukwila, Washington firefighter, Philip Scott Lyons found out the hard way that supermarket loyalty cards can come with a huge price. Lyons was arrested last August and charged with attempted arson. Police alleged at the time that Lyons tried to set fire to his own house while his wife and children were inside. According to the KOMO-TV and the Seattle Times, a major piece of evidence used against Lyons in his arrest was the record of his supermarket purchases that he made with his Safeway Club Card. Police investigators had discovered that his Club Card was used to buy fire starters of the same type used in the arson attempt.

For Lyons, the story did have a happy ending. All charges were dropped against him in January 2005 because another person stepped forward saying he or she set the fire and not Lyons. Lyons is now back at work after more than 5 months of being on administrative leave from his firefighter job.

The moral of this story is that even the most innocent database can be used against a person in a criminal investigation turning their lives completely upside down.

Safeway needs to more up-front with customers about the potential downsides of shopper cards. They should also provide the details of their role in the arrest or Mr. Lyons and other criminal cases in which the company provided Club Card purchase information to police investigators.

Here is how Safeway currently describes their Club Card program in the Club Card application:

http://www.safeway.com/app.pdf

We respect your privacy. Safeway does not sell or lease personally identifying information (i.e., your name, address, telephone number, and bank and credit card account numbers) to non-affiliated companies or entities. We do record information regarding the purchases made with your Safeway Club Card to help us provide you with special offers and other information. Safeway also may use this information to provide you with personally tailored coupons, offers or other information that may be provided to Safeway by other companies. If you do not wish to receive personally tailored coupons, offers or other information, please check the box below. Must be at least 18 years of age.

[Titan Magroyne]

Thank you for posting the article. I see so much wrong with this idea, I hardly know where to begin...

[Mamzelle]

This is a great ideal in context of schools and their security problems--a school is not a home, and many schools are dangerous and challenging places to manage. You don't have the same rights on school property that you do on other property.

I also see and share the alarm on this thread that expansion of these cards portend for our privacy and freedom. It's like that magic map in Harry Potter where you can track the comings and goings of everyone--it will surely be misused unless carefully and rigorously regulated.

I hate those club cards, too. Unfortunately, you miss out on significant discounts if you do not use them. I just didn't shop at the grocery store that had them for a long time, then suddenly every grocery in town got them except WalMart--!

[tfecw]

in an unrelated story. Animal Farm, Brave New World, and 1984 were taken off the required reading lists.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

CASPIAN - Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering

[FourtySeven]

Interesting.

[jaydubya2]

I have know problem with it. They probably should have consented the parents first though.
But I think the kids will figure out that they could give their badge to another student for attendance purposes, and then skid class.

[mysterio]

And we wonder why most kids think newspaper stories should have to be approved by the government. We are teaching them to submit to control in every area of their lives. The Constitution is a foriegn idea to them. How can we ever expect them to value and uphold it?

[Protagoras]

[frithguild]

I want a RIFID:
In my TV controller - nobody ever puts it where it belongs
In my glasses - I always lose them
In my wallet and cellphone - I lose them too
In the dogs - So I don't have to find them when wife worries
In my wife's coffee cup - they're half full all over the house
In my boss - so I can track the threat

And I I thought some more, I could probably think of new ways to use them!

[RJL]

The only grade school in this rural town is requiring students to wear radio frequency identification badges that can track their every move.

Why aren't these grade school children already under constant adult supervision?

[Buckeye McFrog]

too many school board members who are ignorant of technology, and have too dang much of our money to throw at every newfangled doodad pitched by a smooth-talking salesman.

[shellshocked]

Stick the ID tag on a hamster and turn her loose!