Civil liberties groups demand RFID review

More than 30 privacy and civil liberties groups have demanded a halt to the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags on consumer goods.

The action groups want work on the controversial technology to be stopped until a formal investigation into its implications can be carried out.

Liberty UK, the World Privacy Forum and UK think-tank the Foundation for Information Policy Research are among the groups claiming that RFID has the potential to threaten consumer privacy and eliminate purchasing anonymity.

RFID tags are tiny computer chips containing an antenna, which can be embedded in retail goods.

Retailers such as Asda, Woolworths, and Marks & Spencer are all considering them as an alternative to barcodes due to their ability to track stock across the supply chain and improve in-store security.

A joint statement issued by the privacy and civil liberties groups said: "If personal identities were linked with unique RFID tag numbers, individuals could be profiled and tracked without their knowledge or consent."

More powerful RFID tags could allow retailers and manufacturers to build up profiles and track consumer shopping habits.

"Human tracking is inappropriate, either directly or indirectly, through clothing, consumer goods, or other items," said the statement.

The groups have called for retailers and other RFID users to go public with their policies and practices, insisting that no secret databases or tag reading should exist.