Be Smart About Cards
Technology backlash has reared its head in California again lately in the form of several measures in the State Assembly to prohibit the tracking of people through the use of radio frequency identification technology such as electronic cards.“Bad people might access the information and do bad things with it,” says state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), who introduced the measures.
Today’s smart cards are an undeniably powerful technology, and how they are used is an issue worthy of an earnest, thoughtful, public discussion. Arguably, some level of regulatory/government oversight could help to ensure that the technology is used in an ethical and responsible manner. But involved in the public discussion there need to be as many people as possible who are knowledgeable about the technology, its capabilities and its benefits to security. It’s time to speak up. Smart cards can be an endlessly useful tool for the security of our nation in the years to come. That is, unless uninformed privacy paranoia gives the cards a bad name. Let’s not throw the security baby out with the privacy bath water.