Text 47, 91 rader
Skriven 2004-10-02 02:56:55 av Steve Asher (3:800/432.0)
Ärende: RFID Clothing Labels
============================
29 September 2004

The CASPIAN photos of RFID-tagged rags:
http://cryptome.org/mystery/rfid-threat.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 29, 2004

Photographs of RFID Clothing Labels "Unauthorized"

Advanstar threatens CASPIAN founder: Pull or else

Photographs taken by privacy activist and writer Katherine Albrecht 
at the Frontline Expo 2004 conference are "unauthorized" according 
to Advanstar. The event management/PR firm has threatened to ban
Albrecht, founder and director of CASPIAN (Consumers Against
Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering) from future events it
organizes unless she "refrain[s] from making the photos available."

The photographs in dispute show Checkpoint RFID-enabled prototypes 
of Abercrombie & Fitch, Calvin Klein, Champion and other name brand
clothing labels.

"The notion that I somehow 'surreptitiously' photographed the displays
at your event is baffling," Albrecht said in a written response to
Advanstar. She characterized Advanstar's threat as "an attempt to
censor images that fairly and accurately depict the activities that
took place at their conference."

Advanstar's censorship "request," and Albrecht's response are posted
at:

http://www.spychips.com/frontline-letter.html

Advanstar made the decision to designate Albrecht as "press" for the
event. A sign posted at the entrance to the exhibit hall indicated
anyone designated as 'press' could take photographs. In addition to
representing her organization's online RFID publication,
www.spychips.com, Albrecht attended the event to gather information
for a well-known computer industry magazine.

"The photographs I took of RFID tags hidden in clothing labels and
other consumer items document an issue of great public concern, and I
plan to publish them over Advanstar's objections," said Albrecht. "The
RFID industry's efforts to keep these images hidden underscores the
danger the public faces from this powerful and insidious surveillance
technology and the companies that would deploy it in secrecy."

 In addition to the RFID clothing tag photos, Albrecht also documented
the item-level tagging of Huggies baby wipes, Kimberly Clark diapers,
Nyquil cold medicine, CVS vitamins, Similac baby formula, and Lanacane
cream. Rather than bow to censorship demands, Albrecht has also posted
these images at:

http://www.spychips.com/more-frontline-photos.html

The RFID tagging of these items is disturbing from a consumer privacy
standpoint, since the RFID industry has lately assured lawmakers and
the press that they are interested only in "supply side" inventory
tracking on crates and pallets.

Item-level tagging of consumer goods violates a call for a moratorium
issued by CASPIAN and over 40 of the world's leading privacy and civil
liberties organizations last November.

==============================

Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN)
is a grass-roots consumer group fighting retail surveillance schemes
since 1999. With thousands of members in all 50 U.S. states and over
30 countries worldwide, CASPIAN seeks to educate consumers about
marketing strategies that invade their privacy and to encourage
privacy-conscious shopping habits across the retail spectrum.

For more information, see:

http://www.spychips.com and http://www.nocards.org

Katherine Albrecht, CASPIAN Founder and Director: (877) 287-5854
Liz McIntyre, CASPIAN Communications: (877) 287-5854

=============================== 

Source: Cryptome - http://cryptome.org/rfid-threat2.htm


Cheers, Steve...

--- 
 * Origin: Xaragmata / Adelaide SA telnet://xaragmata.thebbs.org (3:800/432)