RFID Technology Research Project

There has been much inetrest recently in RFID technology. In response to this interest I am researching this technology. This is my introduction to this project. I plan to cover the following topics:

What is it
History
Use in products
Use in animals
Use in humans
Conspiracy factor

Goal
To determine what RFID is and how it will affect us in its applications.

Summary
RFID technology can be traced back to the development of radio waves and possibly even before then. It has been identified as many things from a remarkable timesaving device to the mark of the beast foretold in the last book of the Bible. The use of this technology has produced a very emotional response from people who fear that these devices will cost us our freedom. A thorough understanding of RFID technology is necessary to understand the implications produced by this technology.

Participation
Anyone who is interested in participating in this project can U2U me with your ideas.

What is RFID?

The RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a way of identifying objects using radio waves. It is often associated with a group of anti-theft devices called EAS (Electronic Article Surrvelience) anti-theft devices. We are probably familiar with the electro-magnetic security strips found inside of most DVD cases. These strips are deactivated at the checkout stand. If not, they will cause the security stands at the exit to activate an alarm. An RFID tag is a more sophisticated device. It uses an antenna to to send and/or receive electronic information from an RFID transceiver. It is the next generation of EAS anti-theft devices with a potential for so much more. RFID technology has a future in products, animal and humans.

The RFID system consists of two components; a tag which has a microchip with an antenna and a reader which has an antenna, software and often is connected to a computer network. Some people consider the antenna and the computer network that connects the readers as separate components. However, for simplicity's sake, this researcher will not. The tag antenna is tuned to receive the electromagnetic waves that are generated by the reader. The microchip is a small silicon chip which contains a radio receiver, a radio modulator and some memory. The chip, which holds the encoded information, receives and converts or modulates these waves and sends them back to the reader. The reader then converts this information into digital data.

There are two types of RFID tags; passive and active. The passive tags have no power source and are limited to a brief response. They are also limited in the distance at which they can be read, usually less than 20 feet. Since they have no battery, they have a longer shelf life and cost less. Active tags contain a battery which powers the microchip and communication with the reader. There is also a semi-passive tag. This tag is usually grouped with the active tag since it utilizes a battery to power the microchip, but it still requires the electromagnetic field supplied by the reader to communicate. Active and semi-passive tags have a much longer range than passive tags. The shelf life of the batteries is only a few years.

The signals from the tags are the data stored in the microchip's memory. The RFID readers use software to translate these signals from the tags into digital data. The reader can be used in close proximity or over remote distances, depending on the type of tag. The readers must be tuned to the same frequency as the tag.


History

A quick overview of RFID development:


www.rfidsurvival.com...

Technology similar to RFID was introduced by the Brittish in 1939 in their IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) and was used extensivly by allied forces durinig WWII. IFF is still in use today by military aircraft.


en.wikipedia.org...

In 1948 an engineer by the name of Harry Stockman produced his research into powering a mobile transmitter utilizing the strength of a received radio signal. He is credited as being the first researcher to have the forsight of applications of RFID technology.


www.aimglobal.org...

The technology for RFID would not be completed until many years later. The history of the technology required for RFID is as follows: the intoduction of the transistor (invented in 1947), the integrated circuit (simultaneously invented by two different men in 1958 and 1959), the microprocessor (invented in 1971) and the development of communication networks ( developed in Japan for cellular phones in 1979). Each of theses developments were vital for the development of RFID technology.
The research into the technology for RFID did not remain idle however, since as early as the 1960, RFID devices were implemented as EAS devices. As the technology for smaller devices developed, the technology if RFID improved.

Researchand development for RFID in the 1960s:

R. F. Harrington, "Field measurements using active scatterers" and "Theory of loaded scatterers" 1963-1964.
Robert Richardson, "Remotely activated radio frequency powered devices" 1963.
P. Vinding, "Interrogator-responder identification system" 1967.
H. Vogelman, "Passive data transmission techniques utilizing radar beams" 1968.
Otto Rittenback, "Communication by radar beams" 1969.
In the late 1960’s companies such as Sensormatic and Checkpoint began producing EAS anti-theft devices for use in retail stores to counter shop lifting.

Research and development for RFID in the 1970s:


www.awprofessional.com...

Raytheon's "Raytag" 1973.
RCA and Fairchild with Richard Klensch of RCA developed an "Electronic identification system" 1975.
Alfred Koelle, Steven Depp and Robert Freyman, Los Alamos, "Short-range radio-telemetry for electronic identification using modulated backscatter" 1975.
F. Sterzer of RCA developed an "Electronic license plate for motor vehicles" 1977.
Thomas Meyers and Ashley Leigh of Fairchild developed a "Passive encoding microwave transponder" 1978.

Research and development for RFID in the 1980s:

Research and development in the United States concentrated on transportation, personnel access, and to a lesser extent, for animals. In 1987 Europe introduced the first commercial application of RFID for the collection of tolls. Norway quickly followed as did The United States with the RFID toll collection on the Dallas Turnpike in 1989 and the Port Authority in New York and New Jersey.

Research and development for RFID in the 1990s:

In the United States and Europe, RFID toll collection was expaned throughout the countries. Texas Instruments began developing a system used in many vehicles for the control of starting the vehicle’s engine. Other companies began developing this system for use in other applications.

Research and development for RFID in the 21st century:

Research and development continues today with tracking software and the implantable chip for animals and humans.


For a full history on the RFID this article is an excellent source.
Other sources:
www.rfidjournal.com...

Some ATS related topics:
www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...
There are many more, just do an ATS search on RFID

To view some RFID products, go to this page.

Next instalment: RFID use in products.

What does Wrigley’s Chewing gum, The Smithsonian, and barcodes have in common?



www.wallstreetsecretsplus.com...


Barcodes are identification tags. They are printed on labels, packaging and products and are read by barcode reading systems. The barcode scanner reads the patterns of light and dark on the barcode labels and translates this information into a database. The database returns the information associated with the barcode. This is how the store’s cash register knows how much to charge for an item. So every pack of Wrigley’s Spearmint Chewing Gum has the same barcode.

RFID tags utilize a en.wikipedia.org..." target="_blank" class="postlink" rel="nofollow">GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) which is a pseudo-random number used in software applications. While the GUID numbering system cannot guarantee that each number will be unique, “the total number of unique keys is so large that the possibility of the same number being generated twice is virtually zero.” This means that unlike a barcode, each tag has its own unique identifier. This also means that each individual product can be tracked instantly as long as the reader is in range.

GUIDs allow chips to be tracked in cascading hierarchies. For example a truck, ship container or rail car tag could contain information on multiple pallets. Each pallet tag could contain information on multiple boxes. Each box tag could contain information on multiple products. Each product tag would contain information on that particular product. A reader with variable frequencies or the use of multiple readers could instantaneously confirm the accuracy of a manifest. Once the shipment has arrived at the warehouse or store, it allows for instantaneous logging in of the inventory. This application allows for tracking of a product from the time it leaves the manufacturer to the time it arrives at the consumer’s home. At this point, the RFID tag with the packaging is normally disposed of.

RFID tags, it would appear are superior to barcodes. Like barcodes, the RFID reader is connected to a database that associates certain data with the information received from the FRID tag. Unlike barcodes, they can be scanned from a greater distance and can be read through boxes and crates. However, since barcodes are much cheaper that RFID tags, it is unlikely that they will be phased out in the near future. As the use of RFID tags increase in consumer products, I am certain that the increase in cost will be passed along to the consumer. It is likely that barcodes and RFID tags will co-exist for many years.
The price of a passive RFID tag averages at about $0.50 per tag. One way to reduce the cost of RFID tags would be standardization. There is a company that is trying to do just that.



This article describes how EPCglobal intends to standardize RFID tags through five fundamental elements. The components are the EPC (Electronic Product Code) also known as the GUID, the RFID tag, the ONS (Object Name Service) which tells the reader where to find the data associated with the EPC, the PML (Physical Markup Language) an XML based language used to define the data, and Savant the software used to co-ordinate the system. Standardization can be difficult due to the multiple applications of RFID tags.

Applications of RFID tags


Quote from Wikipedia

RFID Inc is a RFID supplier based in Aurora, CO. This company has been in business since 1984 and was incorporated in 1997. They provide products for a number of well know companies. Their list of customers can be found here.

R4 Global Solutions is a RFID supplier based in San Francisco, CA. Here is a list of their customers.

There are many other suppliers of RFID technology.

From this article, Wal-Mart, one of the biggest retailer in the United States, announced in June of 2004, that they would expand their EPC and RFID technology to six distribution centers and 250 Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club locations by June of 2005. They expect that number to jump to 13 distribution centers and 600 retail stores by October of 2005. “Wal-Mart said the technology gives retailers greater inventory visibility from supplier to distribution center to a store's back room.” Wal-Mart is requiring its suppliers to place RFID tags on their cases and pallets shipped to them.

Denmark uses RFID technology to handle 149 busses which operate on 35 routes with 800 arrivals and departures per day. This article examines how RFID technology was used to solve their problems with real time information.

FedEx uses RFID wristbands to unlock the doors on their trucks. This article describes how RFID solved the problems FedEx drivers were experiencing with fumbling for their keys while carrying armloads of packages.

Another article tells how a library in Farmington Hills, MI, utilizes RFID technology.

Whether it is tracking products in the supply chain or automatically paying your toll, RFID technology has been involved in our daily lives more than most people are aware. They are used by consumers from the Department of Defense to Disney World. The technology is global. Tags can be disposable or reusable; read only or rewriteable. But RFID technology is not limited to products and service. The next installment will cover RFID application in animals.




Other Sources
www.rfidjournal.com...
www.jefflindsay.com...

What is Animal Tagging?

Animal tagging is a method of marking an animal for identification. Prior to electronic tagging, animals were branded or cut for identification purposes. These markings were used to prevent theft and prove ownership. Each owner had his own distinct marking that designated him as the owner of the animal marked. Markings were vital in proving ownership in court proceedings. Written documentation was sometimes held by owners. This documentation described the animal and the marking assigned to it. Theft of livestock has been taken very seriously by most societies.

From the Code of HammurabiIf c. 1780 B.C.E. “If any one steal cattle or sheep, or an ass, or a pig or a goat, if it belong to a god or to the court, the thief shall pay thirtyfold; if they belonged to a freed man of the king he shall pay tenfold; if the thief has nothing with which to pay he shall be put to death.”

Body markings were also used in tracking animals for disease. Diseased animals were marked, and usually slaughtered. The surviving animals were examined and marked. An in-depth history of animal tracing and marking can be found here.

APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) began utilizing ear tags, back tags, tattoos, and face brands in the 1960s to track diseased animals. In an article on animal identification, this agency explains the need for livestock identification as:


Current methods of identifying livestock can include ear tags, back tags, neck chains, tail tags, freeze brands, tattoos, paint marks, and leg bands which are non-electronic. Electronic methods of identification include barcode and RFID.

Lowry Computer Products has an excellent slideshow presentation on how RFID tagging works.

The US Animal Identification Plan is a program being introduced to track animals in the food chain. This program, if implemented, “sole intent is to create the ability to track animal disease to its source within a 48-hour period.”

RFID in Wildlife Tracking:

For decades, scientist have been tagging and releasing fish, birds and other wildlife. This practice of humane capture, tag and release has been a tremendous tool for researchers. It allows them to track migration routes, health, and habits of these animals. This research is useful in conservation studies. The introduction of RFID technology makes it easier for researchers to track these animals. Although RFID tagging will not replace non-electronic tagging, it is an important tool for scientist and other researchers.

An article entitled High Tech Animal Tracking describes a program which uses satellites and RFID tags to track animals in their natural habitat. It does not replace field work, but “it can greatly extend the scope of biological studies and reveal information that would be otherwise extremely difficult, or in some cases even impossible, to obtain by any other means.”

The USDA has begun a tagging program on deer and elk in the US to determine how they are contracting wasting disease.

This article describes some of the challenges of capturing and tagging manatees along the west coast of Florida.

Europe is concerned about livestock disease and is utilizing RFID in animal tracking.

An article on satellite tagging marine life and the importance of the program.

This article on bee tagging discusses the use of rf tagged bees to locate unexploded land mines.

RFID in Pet Tracking:

In 2002 there were over 60 million pet dogs and nearly 70 million pet cats in the United States. This figure comes from U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook (2002 Edition). That’s a lot of Fidos and Fluffies. One site estimates that 1.5 to 2 million pets are stolen per year. Pet-ID offers an RFID tag solution for recovering lost and stolen pets. This could get expensive if you raise rabbits.

Avid is another RFID supplier for pet tracking and identification.

RFID in Lab Animal Tracking:

Trovan offers RFID tagging for lab animals for economic reasons and ensure the validity of research results.

From cattle to lab rats, RFID tagging can be adapted to fit your every animal tracking need. Whether the chip is implanted in an ear tag or implanted under the skin, you can be sure that your animal will be quickly and easily located and recovered.

Next installment: RFID applications in humans.

I'll just add this ATSNN Story:

Texas Introduces Bill to Require RFID Certificates on Every Car

I'm not sure if the Bill passed.
.

Who are you?

With the forming of the first society, there was a need to answer this question. The first type of identifier was most likely the census. The word “census” comes from the Latin word “censere” which means to value or to tax. Census taking can trace its origins to the ancient history of Babylonia, China, Egypt, Palestine, and Rome. The first census in the United States took place in 1790. Then society began to think up more ways to identify you.

In 1903 The United Kingdom introduced the Motor Car Act. This was the beginning of government regulation concerning licensing of motor vehicles and drivers.

On December 1, 1936, the first social security record was established for John D. Sweeney, Jr., age 23, of New Rochelle, New York. His number was 055-09-0001. Although his was probably not the first number issued, Mr. Sweeney holds the distinction of holding the first registered number.

During World War II, the United Kingdom established The National Registration Act which required all persons to carry a national ID card. It was established to “facilitate identification of aliens.” The Act was repealed in 1952.

We are now a world of numbers. We have social securitynumbers, driver’s license numbers, credit card numbers, telephone and cell phone numbers, zip codes, employee numbers, etc. . . . Apparently, though, that is not enough. Now we need to be tagged.


Tagging Humans

If you think that you have not been tagged because you do not have an implant, think again. Do you utilize electronic toll collections? Do you own or operate a vehicle that is equipped with a smart key or Michelin tires? Do you have to wear an ID wristband or card at your job? Do you have a smart card?

Let’s start with the smart card. First view . First view this short video "Did You Know?" Video Series: Fun Facts About RFID. Wasn’t that fun? Now let’s take a closer look at smart cards. From the Fredal Smart Card Tutorial we can see the history of the smart card. Quoted from the Overview section:

1970 - Dr. Kunitaka Arimura of Japan filed the first and only patent on the smart card concept.
1974 - Roland Moreno of France files the original patent for the IC card later dubbed the “smart card”.
1977 - Three commercial manufacturers, Bull CP8, SGS Thompson, and Schlumberger began developing the IC card product.
1979 - Motorola developed the first secure single chip microcontroller for use in French banking.
1982 - Field testing of serial memory phone cards took place in France—the world’s first major IC card test.
1984 - Field trials of ATM cards with chips were successfully conducted.
1986 - In March, 14,000 cards equipped with Bull CP8 were distributed to clients of the Bank of Virginia and the Maryland National Bank. Also, 50,000 cards were distributed to clients of the First National Palm Beach Bank and the Mall Bank.
1987 - First large-scale smart card application implemented in the United States with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nationwide Peanut Marketing Card.
1991 - First Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) smart card project launched for the Wyoming Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
1992 - A nationwide prepaid (electronic purse) card project (DANMONT) was started in Denmark.
1993 - Field test of multi-function smart card applications in Rennes, France, where the Telecart function (for public phones) was enabled in a Smart Bank Card.
1994 - Europay, MasterCard and Visa (EMV) published joint specifications for global micro-chip based bank cards (smart cards). Germany began issuance of 80 million serial memory chip cards as citizen health cards.
1995 - Over 3 million digital mobile phone subscribers worldwide began initiating and billing calls with smart cards. First of 40,000 multi-functional, multi-technology MARC cards with chips were issued to U.S. Marines in Hawaii.
1996 - Over 1.5 million VisaCash stored value cards were issued at the Atlanta Olympics. MasterCard and Visa began sponsorship of competing consortia to work on solving the problems of smart card interoperability; two different card solutions were developed: the JavaCard backed by Visa, and the Multi Application Operating System (MULTOS)backed by MasterCard.
1998 - In September 1998, the U.S. Government’s General Services Administration and the United States Navy joined forces and implemented a nine-application smart card system and card management solution at the Smart Card Technology Center in Washington D.C. The Technology Center’s primary purpose is to demonstrate and evaluate the integration of multi-application smart cards with other types of technology, showcasing systems available for use in the Federal Government. Microsoft announced its new Windows smart card operating system. France began piloting a smart health card for its 50 million citizens.
1999 - The U.S. Government General Services Administration began a true multi-application JavaCard pilot in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

And quoted from the application section, we can get an idea of what this card can be used for.

Financial - Electronic Purse to replace coins for small purchases in vending machines and over-the-counter transactions. Credit and/or Debit Accounts, replicating what is currently on the magnetic stripe bank card, but in a more secure environment. Securing payment across the Internet as part of Electronic Commerce.
Communications - The secure initiation of calls and identification of caller (for billing purposes) on any Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) phone. Subscriber activation of programming on Pay-TV.
Government Programs - Electronic Benefits Transfer using smart cards to carry food stamps and WIC food benefits in lieu of paper coupons and vouchers. Agricultural producer smart marketing cards to track quotas.
Information Security - Employee access card with secure passwords and the potential to employ biometrics to protect access to computer systems.
Physical Access - Employee access card with secured ID and the potential to employ biometrics to protect physical access to facilities.
Transportation - Driver’s license, Mass Transit Fare Collection Systems, and Electronic Toll Collection Systems.
Retail and Loyalty - Consumer reward/redemption tracking on a smart loyalty card, that is marketed to specific customer profiles and linked to one or more specific retailers serving that profile set.
Health Card - Consumer health card containing insurance eligibility and emergency data.
University - All purpose student ID card containing a variety of applications such as electronic purse (for vending and laundry machines), library card, and meal card.

About those Micheline tires, Micheline announced, in October of 2004, its intentention of embedding RFID tags in their tires. As of the date of the press release, none of those tires had been sold to the general public, although an earlier article stated that Michelin plans to offer automakers the option of purchasing the RFID embedded tires after tests have been completed.

You may be feeling rather smug now, if you can honestly say you haven’t been tagged. May I suggest that you check the labels of you clothes? A site dedicated to exposing RFID technology in retail items, Spychips, is concerned with the hidden RFID tags in clothing. On this page are pictures of clothing labels removed from some of the clothes. Notice how some of them are not marked “RFID”.


In March, 2003, Benetton announced that they would begin implanting RFID tags in clothing.

In July, 2005, Lauren Scott has come up with a system for keeping tabs on the kiddies. The system is priced at around $500.00 US.


But wait! There's more! Texas HB 2893 is a bill introduced into the Texas State Legislature requiring that the Texas Inspection stickers are imbedded with RFID tags.



Last action on this www.capitol.state.tx.us..." target="_blank" class="postlink" rel="nofollow">bill House Committee report was sent to Calendars.

The latest; Brit License Plates Get Chipped!


Tags and cards can be lost, misplaced or stolen. The real RFID security can only come with the RFID chip implanted into your body

Next Installment: RFID Applications in Humans Part 2: Implants

Other Sources:
www.sph.uth.tmc.edu...
www.privacyinternational.org...
www.ssa.gov...

On Being Micro-managed

Human implants are nothing new. This site claims that facial implants have been used for centuries. Breast implants date back to the 1880 where a variety of items (including glass balls, ivory, rubber, etc. . .) were inserted to increase breast size. The first pacemaker was implanted in the 1960s. Since then over 2 million pacemakers have been implanted worldwide. The first dental implants took place in 1965. None of these procedures kicks up as much controversy as the latest implants on the market: the microchip implant.

On October 14, 2004, an article from The Register announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved human implantation of the VeriChip, a product of Applied Digital Solutions.

Applied Digital Solutions calls themselves a provider of innovative identification and security products for consumer, commercial and government sectors worldwide. Their Digital Angel “is a leading provider of sensor and communications technologies that enable secure and accurate identification, tracking, and condition monitoring of high-value mobile assets. Applications for the company’s products include: pet identification using its patented FDA-approved implantable microchips; livestock identification and tracking using visual and RFID ear tags; real-time tracking of fixed- and rotor-winged aircraft through its FAA-approved satellite-based flight tracking and messaging system; and wireless emergency location of military aircraft and watercraft.” In a 2001 article from World Net Daily the author states in an interview with Dr. Lawrence Webber of Digital Angel Corp., that Digital Angel is “no longer pursuing implant technology for humans.”

Welcome to the next step: the VeriChip. The VeriChip is a small passive RFID device encased in a glass vial. The entire implantable device is about the size of a grain of rice. The implant procedure is described as no more physically uncomfortable than getting a shot. The VeriChip is being used in two applications at the moment: the VeriMed and the VeriGuard.

The VeriMed is being targeted towards health officials whom, the company hopes, will be able to convince patients to get chipped. Marketed as a solution to communication barriers, Applied Digital Solutions claim that the VeriMed can “provide healthcare professionals with a patient's name and pertinent personal information when he or she can’t speak, can’t remember, or is unconscious.” Much the same way, I might add, as Medical alert jewelry. ADS claims that unlike traditional devices, the implanted chip cannot be lost, stolen or counterfeited (more on counterfeiting in a later installation).

The VeriGuard comes in attachable (for item security), wearable (for temporary use) and implantable (for permanent use) devices. From their www.verichipcorp.com...(Jul2005a).pdf" target="_blank" class="postlink" rel="nofollow">pdf:



Brave New World

In this article the author states:


The article states that with nanotechnology, the silcon microchip could be replaced by an ink-based RFID circuit lowering cost to a penny or less. Known as the organic RFID, proponents claim that these could become reality within the next five years.

Tag, You’re IT!

Who would get an implant and why would they do so? The first human chip implant was inserted on August 24, 1998. The recipient was Professor Kevin Warwick, director of cybernetic at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. The implant, described as about 23mm by 3mm, was inserted in the professor’s left arm. The chip was removed nine days later. The nine day trial was an experiment to determine feasibility of replacing smart cards with RFID implants.

Perhaps one of the best-known chipped personalities is Tommy Thompson. According to this article dated July 19, 2005, the former Governor of Wisconsin and Health and Human Services Secretary during Bush’s first term has announced his intention to get chipped. Why would he do such a thing? On July 7, 2005, Applied Digital Solutions announced Mr. Thompson’s appointment to their Board of Directors.

The BBC reported on chipping at the Baja Beach Club in Barcelona, Spain. BBC’s Science Producer, Simon Morton reports his chipping experience, which was administered by a nurse, at the club.


There is also a web site bulletin board for those who have been tagged.kaos.gen.nz..." target="_blank" class="postlink" rel="nofollow">tagged.

There have also been a few hoaxes on line. A commentary on chipping the homeless was later proven by snopes.com to be an April Fool’s joke. A google search unveiled a likely candidate for this research. However, clicking on the Library Journal link proved fruitless.

From products to animals to humans, RFID tagging has become a worldwide phenomenon. Fear of the chip ranges from concerns over data security to submitting to the mark of the beast. How safe is this chip? Are we being misled? Is this a product of the NWO? I hope to answer these and other questions in future installment.

Next Installment: RFID Technology and Privacy.

While some people wish for fame and fortune, most of us prefer to remain anonymous. We find security in being unknown. Scroll through the different forums and threads on this site. Notice that member’s user names are usually not their real names. Most user names are cryptic and/or androgynous. Avatars are not pictures of how we really look, but symbols that have a meaning to us. Sometimes the avatar owner is the only one who knows what it means. There is certain freedom in anonymity. We want our privacy and feel violated when we are exposed. Anonymity makes us feel safe. We have a deep psychological need to feel safe and secure. Whenever that need is not met, we feel fear and anxiety.

The Right to Privacy

Civil Liberties are protections granted to us by our governments. Our protection is only as good as our government. Most free countries have a provision in their constitution or laws that protect their citizens’ privacy. The secret ballot used in elections is an excellent example governmental protection of privacy rights.

Article 8 from the European Convention on Human Rights, adopted 1950:



The Privacy Act of 1974:



There are many reasons for wanting privacy. We may want to protect our information from fraud. We want medical privacy, political privacy, credit privacy, personal privacy, privacy from corporations and government interference. However, most of all, we want privacy because it is our business and no one else’s. We want to choose what we reveal about ourselves to others. When our private life or information becomes public, we lose our sense of security. The fear of losing our privacy can cause anxiety.

Identity Theft

Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands:
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.

Shakespeare, Othello - Iago to Othello, Act III scene 3

Hackers, thieves and vandals also want anomyity. Millions of people were notified this year alone, that their personal information had been lost or stolen. Identity theft is rampant. Security breeches are so common that the United States Congress is increasing their efforts to protect citizens’ from information theft. In an article from PCWorld



Firewalls, Malware, ant-virus, and encryption tools appear as more a challenge than a deterrent to hackers, thieves and vandals. Even the United States Department of Defense is vulnerable.

DoD hacker jailed for 21 months “A US hacker convicted of infecting Department of Defense with a computer worm was last week sentenced to 21 months imprisonment.”

HACK ATTACK “In 2002, the Department of Justice indicted (in absentia) a resident of the UK, Gary McKinnon, of hacking into DOD and NASA computers and causing almost a million dollars worth of damages. Yesterday, they got around to trying to extradite him for trial.”

Technology to the Rescue

"Security Through Innovation" Strategy Unveiled at Saturday's Delray Beach Event Applied Digital unveils their marketing strategy. Marketing has little to do with the product being sold and everything to do with selling emotions. AD is using our fear to sell their product.



By implanting chips in humans, AD assures us that they will solve the problems of lost, misplaced and stolen RFID tags. The implant contains a tiny microchip with an antenna. The chip is a passive type, that is, it is not battery operated and requires an electromagnetic field supplied by the reader. A passive chip is limited by the amount of information it can carry. The reader is dependent on the database, which it is connected to supply the data connected to the RFID tag. So that means that your implant is safe from theft, right? Wrong!

A group of students from John Hopkins University wrote an academic paper describing their experiment into hacking RFID codes. The following is an implication they made based on the results of their experiment.



What would prevent someone from remote scanning your implant, and then encoding the same information onto an RFID card? Hey, now I can be you. Will the next step be the government telling us that the only way to prevent this type of counterfeit would be to require everyone to have an implant and discontinue use of all cards?

Your Data is Not Safe

All of our lives are on file and for sale to someone. It is not just hackers but sometimes employees of the company you trust your information. Information Week reported last year that an employee at a financial datacenter was charged with selling customers’ credit information.

www.businessweek.com..." target="_blank" class="postlink" rel="nofollow">Hackers demonstrated their skills this month in Las Vegas. Defcon, the hacker vs. feds competition, is supposed to be an idea sharing on how to make the internet safer. In actuality, it is a chance for hackers to show their expertise


Waves of the Future
One GUID number should be able to tie you into several databases. For instance, if the police scan your chip, they can have access to your driver’s license record, your traffic violation history, and any warrants against you that may be on file. On the other hand, your doctor could scan the same implant and be provided with your complete medical history. It depends on the database connected to the scanner. Are we there yet? Not even close. Besides, how does the emergency room in Aruba get access to my medical records in Texas unless there were global databases?

Our information is everywhere and it is not secure. Using RFID technology will not change this. Hacker prevention is a problem whose solution could be accomplished by removing the criminals’ anonymity. On some military bases, US Government computers are using smart card technology. The user must insert their card before they can log on. Passwords may still be required. Once a hacker is identified by his implant when logging on to the internet, his anonymity has been compromised. This would require all citizens to be chipped and all computers fitted with devices that read the implants before allowing internet access. What price are you willing to pay for security?

Next installment: RFID Technology and Privacy Part2: Big Brother is Watching You

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you

Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I’ll be watching you

Police- Every Breath You Take

In June of 1949, readers were introduced to George Orwell’s fictitious Big Brother in his book 1984. Big Brother is the all seeing government that knows all. It is the epitome of surveillance. Our fear of mass surveillance is evident in books such as Orwell’s 1984, Phillip K. Dick’s Minority Report, and movies such as Blue Thunder. There is a reason for our fear, mass surveillance or any surveillance is a violation of our privacy and violates our need to feel safe and secure. The government is telling us that surveillance will make us safe. Many programs are all ready in place to do this.

A History of Surveillance and Information Gathering

Although armies have used spies since the first battle, organized military surveillance and information gathering in the United States began during the Civil War. By World War I it had grown tremndously and by WWII it had grown large enough to justify its own recognized organization. This new unit, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), dedicated itself to civilian counterespionage after the war. Due to concerns of electron surveillance, Congress passed the first law defining the proper use in 1968. Its premise was to balance the governments needs in law enforcement with the privacy needs of the individual citizen. 1986 saw the passage of another privacy law that allowed the use of newer technology in law enforcements ever growing battle against crime.

Today video surveillance is everywhere. In most public places, throughout the world, whether it is a bank, a store, the airport, or even our public schools, either video recorders or cctv will be there. We know that the government is watching us and recording information about us. Most of us have come to accept this. As Orwell stated in his book 1984: “There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment... You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized.” We may or may not believe our government when they tell us that this surveillance is for our own good. The Big Brother of fiction has slowly become a reality. We worry about what they may know about us. We worry because we know that their databases are not safe from hackers.

Big Brother Invades Retail

Imagine going shopping in your favorite store. You pick up all of the items that you normally buy. When you get to the register, your items are bagged and you are given a receipt. You did not have to actually pay because the store’s sensors recorded all of the items in your cart and automatically deducted the cost from your bank account. There was a commercial recently in the US that depicted this same scenario. Imagine the speed and convenience of shopping this way. This is the way that retailers want you to see RFID tagging. Not as an invasion of your privacy, but as a quick and convenient way to shop. Now imagine that along with this speed and convenience the store has actually created their own database on you that gets upgraded every time you shop there. The unique identity numbers in each item have been directly linked with your information and ultimately with you.

From the testimony of Jacki Snyder, Manager of Electronic Payments for Supervalu, Inc., chairof the Food Marketing Institute's Electronic Payments Committee, and a member of the National Automated Clearinghouse Association's EBT council.at a congressional hearing on THE FUTURE OF ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS: ROADBLOCKS AND EMERGING PRACTICES



Imagine the ultimate goal; every item in the world is embedded with an RFID tag, and can be traced to who purchased it. Imagine every person in the world is embedded with an RFID tag and Big Brother is watching.

The New Alibi

The trails the government follows are numerous: debit card payment, ATM withdrawals, telephone call records, building access, video-surveillance, e-mail traffic, internet traffic, store value cards, etc. . . Once everyone is chipped, they can be tracked by readers placed in virtually every place you can imagine.

Alanco Technologies, Inc. installed its first commercial system in a Michigan juvenile facility in March of 2002.



This same company has made arrangements to install its system in the L.A. County Jail in May of 2005.



Complaints have caused some companies to cancel one or more of their RFID tagging programs. Katherine Albrecht, the founder and director of Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering, or CASPIAN, does not believe that the potentials of RFID tagging outweigh Orwellian concerns about privacy. Her book, Spychips stands as a warning to how government and major corporations will have the ability to track our every move.

Opponents claim that RFID tagging of humans is dehumanizing. The Romans used to brand and later tattoo slaves. Opponents point out that tagging humans equates us with cattle and claim that proponents are using scare tactics in pushing this technology. Proponents for the technology claim that the Columbine shooting may have been prevented with RFID tagging in our schools and claim that opponents are paranoid.

Ignorance is a major cause of fear. I personally know of no global databases with all of your private information. I could find no proof that the government or major corporations are using RFID technology to spy on the world’s citizens. However, the possibility of RFID surveillance does exist. It could happen within the next three to five years as technology increases. The line between caution and paranoia seems very thin.

This just in: Man convicted in massive database theft

Next installment: RFID Technology and the NWO

Other Sources:
www.library.ca.gov...
en.wikipedia.org...
news.com.com...

Edited html link.

[edit on 8/16/2005 by darkelf]

What is The New World Order?

According to infinite, ATS’s F.S.M.E. on the NWO, the NWO is:



There are many theories on who or what composes the NWO. Conspiracy theories range from David Icke’s reptilians to the Bible’s Anit-Christ. For a thorough understanding of the NWO and the many theories, visit infinite’s excellent work on the NWO forum.

The goal of the NWO is to rule the world. This reminds me of all of the TV shows I saw and comic books I read as a child. The evil person always had a plan to rule the world, but some superhero would always save the day by capturing the evil menace and thwarting his plans. According to the NWO conspiracy theorists, the NWO is the evil menace. Unfortunately, there are no superheroes to rescue us if the NWO theorists are right.

The Shape of Things to Come

What will be one of the signs of an NWO takeover? Once again, I defer to infinite:



Maybe like this?



Or this



And once again from infinite:





What is Real About Reality TV

In my last installment, I linked surveillance to Orwell’s Big Brother. If you were to ask a Baby Boomer (roughly, those born between 1945 and 1965) who Big Brother is, they would possibly think in Orwellian terms. Their experience is enmeshed in memories of the aftermath of World War II, Hitler, Stalin and the Cold War. They may tend to think of people who did not have the freedom to act or speak due to governmental constraints. If you were to ask a Generation X’er (roughly, those born between 1965 and 1980) they may remember Vietnam and the Cold War. Their disdain may not be as strong as a Boomer’s, but most will probably not think favorably of Big Brother type tactics. Ask the question of a Generation Y’er (those born since 1980) and you may be surprised at their response. They have lived, until recently, in relative peace and safety. Most Generation Y’ers relate Big Brother to Reality TV.

Reality TV is not new. In 1973, the BBC presented a documentary series An American Family. Craig Gilbert shot 300 hours of footage in the home of the Loud family in seven months. However, only 12 hours of footage was aired. Over 10 million viewers tuned in to watch the documentary, which included the marital breakup of Bill and Pat Loud and the coming out of their son Lance.

In an article on reality TV, the author states that in 1992 when MTV cast their first show of The Real World “they initially had a hard time finding people willing to have their lives taped nearly 24 hours a day for several months. That was 1992. Now they hold auditions in college towns and thousands of young people form lines snaking for blocks just for the chance to audition.” To date, over 35,000 twenty-somethings have auditioned to have their lives exposed to the world.

Reality TV puts us in the role as observers. We are the ones doing the surveillance. Something strange happens to us when we do this. Although intellectually we know that these are real people, we tend to view them as characters. We depersonalize them. Consider William Hung’s interpretation of Ricky Martin. Hung’s audition for American Idol was met by Simon Cowel’s “You can’t sing, you can’t dance, so what do you want me to say?” Hung’s reply “I already gave my best, and I have no regrets at all,” made him an instant celebrity. Of Hung’s numerous fans, how many view him as a real person and not a character? The reality of reality TV is that we view surveillance as entertainment. In true NWO mind control style, we are being anesthetized to the dangers of surveillance. We willingly embrace it. We have come a long way since 1948’s Candid Camera.

RFID, Katrina, and The NWO

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the gulf coast. The hardest hit area affected by Katrina ranged from Southeastern Louisiana to Alabama. The devastation was contained in an area of about 90,000 square miles. The official death toll has not yet been released, but forecast range from several hundred to 15,000 dead. Many people refused or were unable to evacuate. The search for bodies continues. In the aftermath of Katrina, many questions have been raised and conspiracy theories abound. Some of these theories involve the possibility that the events of the aftermath of Katrina were orchestrated by the NWO.

Issues from the evacuation of survivors and the retrieval of the dead have brought up many reasons for the required implantation of RFID chips. Each issue can be easily remedied by the implantation of RFID chips.

1. Locating survivors and the dead: If each person had an RFID chip, rescue workers could scan each area in a grid like fashion. The survivors could be rescued systematically. Debris fields could be scanned for the living and the dead. Areas that contained dead bodies could be marked for later retrieval. The dead could be instantly identified.
2. Evacuees without personal records: Many of the people evacuated from New Orleans have no identification on them. Children have been separated from their parents. Implanted RFID chips could be read at evac centers and identification verified.
3. Evacuees without medical records: RFID chip implants could give doctors a patient history to ensure that the patient’s needs are met.
4. Criminal element: Criminals would most likely be the first to remove a required RFID chip. Anyone found without a chip could be incarcerated. RFID scanners used in conjunction with infrared or FLIR could help officials to locate suspicious individuals.
5. Gun owners: RFID chips could grant officials access to the database, which houses information on legal gun owners. Those with guns that are not in the database could be detained or incarcerated. This technology could also be used to locate citizens with legal firearms to disarm them.

The Matrix
A matrix can be defined as a surrounding substance within which something else originates, develops, or is contained. In the movie, The Matrix, the Matrix is a virtual reality controlled by a super artificial intelligence. In real life, the Matrix is our belief system and it is just as controlling as the Matrix in the movie. This is a world where we believe that public schools educate our children, that our politicians have our best interest at heart. It is a belief that innocent people do not go to jail, and that doctors do not prescribe anything that would hurt us.

Hopefully, the incidents that have taken place in the last few weeks have compelled more people to come out of the Matrix and into the real world.

Next installment: RFID Technology and the Mark of the Beast

Other Sources:
educate-yourself.org...
www.government-propaganda.com...
www.freedomdomain.com...

RFID technology is feared by those who do not understand it. It is also feared by those who do and see its potential for misuse. As with nuclear and biological weaponry, knowing and understanding your enemy is the best way to fight it. I hope that my previous posts have given you a working knowledge of what RFID technology is and its potential uses. This section deals with Biblical prophecy and interpretations of that prophecy. I will be using the King James Version unless otherwise noted. Please keep in mind that when dealing in issues of faith and spirituality, much of the information will be subjective. I will try to stay as objective as possible in dealing with all sides of this issue.

A large number of people are concerned with RFID technology. Some are concerned with loss of privacy, while others promote the technology as time-saving and efficient. Many Christians see the RFID chip as the “mark of the Beast” and refuse to ever allow the implant. Are their fears valid and is the implantable micro-chip the feared “Mark of the Beast?”

In order to understand this fear of the RFID implant, I will have to provide some background. We must first answer these questions; who is the beast and what is his mark?

Who is the Beast?

The Bible predicts that many anti-christs will walk the earth. There is one, however, who is prophesied to be the worst of all anti-christs. The story of the Beast of Revelation (also referred to as The Anti-Christ) has confused many. His story is prophesied in both the Old Testament and New Testament. This beast will rise in power and rule the world.

Not only will everyone be required to receive a “mark” but will also be required to worship the Beast and his engraved image. This Beast is said to be the embodiment of Satan.



The chapter begins with the Apostle John’s continued vision. He sees a beast rise out of the sea. He later describes another beast rising from the land. In the previous chapter, we see the dragon appearing in the heavens.



When taken in context, we see three beast; one from the heavens, one from the sea, and one from the land. Many students of eschatology (the study of Bible prophecy) believe that this represents the unholy trinity or triunity of Satan. This is the attempt by Satan to recreate himself in God’s image. The dragon is Satan as God, the first beast (Anti-Christ) is Satan as the Messiah, and the third beast (False Prophet) is Satan as the Spirit of God. Since our focus is the Anti-Christ, we will deal primarily with the first beast.

The beast who rises from the sea has seven heads and ten horns and ten crowns on his horns and the name of blasphemy on his heads. Chapter 17 of Revelation explaind theses heads and horns:



The woman is Babylon (symbolic of commerce or prosperity?), the seven heads are the seven mountains which represent seven kings or kingdoms, and the ten horns are ten king or kingdoms who rule under the beast. Hence, the beast is not only a man who rules the world, but is symbolic of the world system that he rises from. Rome sits on seven hills and was the kindom in power when John had his visions.

Five are fallen: the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Greek Empires. One is: the Roman Empire. The other is not yet come: could be the Ottoman Empire, although some people would argue that the seventh is the New World Order. The eighth was, and is not, is of the seven. The six empires that have been identified were all rulers of what is know today as the Middle East. If the seventh is the Ottoman Empire, then the eighth could very well be both the Anti-Christ and the New World Order of which he will rule.



[edit on 11/12/2006 by darkelf]

(Continued from previous post)

In a world of increasing religious intolerance, the idea of a global society actually worshiping not only a man but also his image is difficult to believe. Many Christians not only believe this scenario, but believe that it will happen soon.

Who could possibly unite a world of differing political, social, and religious ideologies and how could he do it? Verse three says that the world will wonder after the beast. Everyone will admire and possibly even idolize this man. What could he do to earn the admiration, love and worship of the entire world?

The answer could be found in the Old Testament. Daniel chapter 8 verse 25, speaking of this beast, says: “and by peace shall destroy many.” Few people outside of the Christian community believe that one man could possibly bring peace to the entire world. Men have tried for centuries to bring peace to the world but to no avail. The Middle East is a bubbling cauldron of violence that could soon boil over engulfing the entire world. Any one man who could unite the world in peace would be revered, loved and perhaps even worshipped by most of thee world. Those who are deceived into worshipping this man will be the first to willingly take his mark.

Next Installment: What is the Mark?

[edit on 11/12/2006 by darkelf]