 | Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Issue 804 | | Will Smith, Editor |  |
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Editor's Note: Today's top story is the new Washington state law, expected to be passed today, that will make it a felony to skim personal information encoded in RFID tags. The law applies to Washington's new RFID-enabled Enhanced Driver Licenses, federal PASS Cards used in the state, and also to access control cards, loyalty cards, and any other RFID card or document that holds personal information.
Sirit and 3M have announced an agreement whereby Sirit's tags and readers will be sold through 3M's Traffic Safety Systems Division. That division sells into departments of motor vehicles and ministries of transportation around the world, a market that Sirit is eager to reach as it seeks to expand its vehicle identification business.
Lastly, Hitachi announced that its µ-chip can survive at least 500 kilogray of gamma energy exposure, which the company indicates is an important differentiator from other RFID chips whose data would become damaged with such exposure. This is significant for life science applications, in which medical disposables and other objects undergo gamma exposure. Recall that the µ-chip is a tiny 0.4mm-square RFID chip, small enough to be embedded in paper. |
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| RFID Tags & Labels | | - Ferroxtag HF tags: Smart on Metal! (site) | | | Products & Services | | - Real-Time WIP Visibility Appliance from Omnitrol Networks (site) | | - Employees steal over $1 billion per week from employers (site) | | | Employment | | - RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting (site) | | | Upcoming Events | | - AWA PABS08 N. America Conference, Sept 11-12, Chicago, IL (site) | | - AWA PABS08 Asia Conference, Dec 4-5 - Hong Kong, China (site) | | - European Supply Chain & Logistics, 13-15 May, Germany (site) | | - RFID World Asia 2008, 8 to 11 April, Suntec Singapore (site) | | - SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008, June 19-21, Guangzhou, China (site) | | | Research & Whitepapers | | - RFID Marketing Strategies Report (site) | |
Washington RFID Bill Expected to Become Law Today
Today Washington Governor Chris Gregoire is expected to sign a bill making it a felony to skim personal data from RFID cards and documents. The state senate unanimously passed House Bill 1031 (HB 1031) last week. Its sponsor, House of Representatives Speaker Pro Tempore Jeff Morris, indicated to RFID Update that he has been told the governor will sign her approval today.
The bill applies to RFID and facial recognition technologies, and is narrowly focused on skimming. The key provision is Section 3, which reads:
A person that intentionally scans another person's identification device remotely, without that person's prior knowledge and prior consent, for the purpose of fraud, identity theft, or for any other illegal purpose, shall be guilty of a class C felony.
"We wanted to get some rules in place before the technology really comes into play," Rep. Morris told RFID Update.
Washington began issuing Enhanced Driver Licenses with RFID tags in January, and thousands of citizens have requested them. The Enhanced Driver License can be used instead of a passport for crossing the Washington border into Canada. Morris said it was important to establish RFID usage guidelines and protections since government and private RFID systems are growing throughout Washington.
"Legislators can be very good at being reactionary after there is some public outcry, then end up passing something that is really draconian," Morris said, suggesting that Washington HB 1031 is balanced and thoughtful legislation.
According to AIM North America executive director Dan Mullen, who was in contact with Washington lawmakers during the legislative process, the bill is a good example of legislation that emphasizes regulation of criminal activity, instead of regulation of the technology itself. "The fact that the bill focuses on behavior, and punishing behavior that is not appropriate, is something anyone can support," Mullen told RFID Update.
Mullen said the legislation seems reasonable and well written, but questions whether laws specifically legislating against RFID data interception are necessary in Washington or elsewhere.
"The computer crimes law in Washington state can be applied to RFID tags and the data they contain because the statutes do not allow a person to access any data without permission or other operation of law," Mullen said. "For example, laws prohibiting stalking and identity theft, as well as illegal access to computer systems, are already on the books in Washington state. We feel it would be much more appropriate to update current statutes that cover the behaviors that they are trying to address in HB 1031."
Lawmakers in Washington may have felt a need to address RFID specifically because of the state's central role in emerging RFID citizen identification programs. Washington is one of four border states -- along with Arizona, New York, and Vermont -- that have signed cooperative agreements with the Department of Homeland Security to use the same RFID technology in their enhanced drivers licenses as the national PASS Card (see Digimarc Selected to Produce RFID Driver's Licenses), which the federal government is making available to US citizens who frequently cross borders into Canada and Mexico.
The PASS Card program remains controversial, with many opponents claiming the State Department, which manages the program, issued Gen2-based RFID technology specifications that create unnecessary security holes. The State Department's position is that PASS Cards are secure because they contain only a unique ID number and not any personal information that could be skimmed (see US Gov Sets Controversial RFID Passport Card Specs).
Washington is also home to a people-tracking trial at the University of Washington's Seattle campus (see University Launches RFID People Tracking Experiment). The RFID Ecosystem Project that faculty and students are conducting there will not be affected by the new law because the opt-in program is voluntary and participants give their permission to be identified with RFID.
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| RFID Tags & Labels | Ferroxtag HF tags: Smart on Metal!
Ferroxtag is a new family of HF RFID tags suitable for operation on metallic surfaces. Ferroxtag's special ferrite antenna was developed using Ferroxcube's years of experience in ferrite technology. The high performance antenna means longer read range with a smaller tag. Visit www.ferroxtag.com | | | Products & Services | Real-Time WIP Visibility Appliance from Omnitrol Networks
Meet the industry's most innovative award winning RFID solution that enables complete work-order traceability in manufacturing. Real-time web-based dashboards and multi-site monitoring for work-order pedigree and traceability, including proactive bottleneck management and real-time performance analytics optimizing shop-floor efficiency. All at the lowest TCO in the marketplace. www.omnitrol.com/WIP. | Employees steal over $1 billion per week from employers
the American Management Association reports. 95% of businesses are victimized by employee theft. Managers are reluctant to ask questions, because trusted employees may feel offended, leaving business owners in a difficult situation. What can you do? Nox: Intelligent Perimeter Defense from Simply RFID provides advanced security and protection for business assets. | | | Employment | RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting
Whether your company is looking for the best RFID talent or you have the best RFID talent and are looking for the best RFID employer, RFID Recruiters offers the most focused approach to your objective. To learn how the RFID industry and the RFID job market are evolving, visit www.rfidrecruiters.com | | | Upcoming Events | AWA PABS08 N. America Conference, Sept 11-12, Chicago, IL
AWA is organizing the Product Authentication & Brand Security Conference 2008 on September 11-12 in Chicago, IL. The event includes presentations and panel discussions with brand owners, legal authorities, associations, converters and suppliers; also networking sessions, a supplier forum, a social program and more. Find more on the program here. | AWA PABS08 Asia Conference, Dec 4-5 - Hong Kong, China
AWA presents the Asian Product Authentication & Brand Security Conference 2008, to be held on 4 & 5 December in Hong Kong, China. PABS08 Asia focuses on the threats specific to the Asia Pacific region, various elements of IP Theft, and leading-edge solutions. Find more on the program here. | European Supply Chain & Logistics, 13-15 May, Germany
Bringing together Europe's leading providers of supply chain management to evaluate best practices and to move the supply chain agenda into the boardroom. Also, featuring the AMR Research Strategy Session: What makes a supply chain world class in today's global market? More information here: www.supplychain.eu.com | RFID World Asia 2008, 8 to 11 April, Suntec Singapore
RFID World Asia 2008 is THE event for finding out the transforming power of RFID for your business and its future. Sign up now for RFID Asia Summit 2008, targeted at senior-level executives; to understand and reap the benefits of this new business tool. For more information go to www.terrapinn.com/2008/rfid | SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008, June 19-21, Guangzhou, China
As one of the earliest, most specialized and authoritative exhibitions in China, approved and supported directly from State Ministry, the 8th SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008 will present you the impressive up-dated development and market of RFID technology in rising China. To know more, please go to www.scan-china.com. | | | Research & Whitepapers | RFID Marketing Strategies Report
Thirty-nine pages of original research on RFID audience perceptions, including 30+ figures of tactics, content & messaging, and recommendations to guide marketing strategy. Also, Top-10 RFID company rankings based on 550+ survey respondents. View the executive summary free, with Top-3 sample rankings. Only $495 Individual License or $795 Corporate License. Available now |
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