|
Howdy Pilgrim
Welcome to VetZine's Blog
Concatenation
The linking together
of a series of events or ideas
''The Domino Theory''
we have been warned about.
They say
we are at war
Who is the
Enemy ?
Eastasia ?
Westasia ?
Phantasia ?
Daily Dispatches
from the Trenches
email me
|
Thursday, March 13, 2003
Boycott The Thought Police !
From: CASPIAN Newsletter newsletter@nocards.org
To: pressrelease@nocards.org
Subject: CASPIAN Calls for Immediate Worldwide Boycott of Benetton
Date sent: 12 Mar 2003 18:40:20 -0500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Consumer Group Calls for Immediate Worldwide Boycott of Benetton
March 12, 2003
An American consumer privacy group has called for an immediate,
worldwide boycott of Benetton (NYSE:BNG) following disclosures that the
company has placed identification and tracking devices into its clothing
products. CASPIAN (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and
Numbering) announced today that it will oppose Benetton's plans to place
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips into clothing labels intended
for the consumer market.
RFID chips function as tiny radio transmitters, allowing clothing to be
identified and tracked at a distance. According to a joint press release
yesterday by Benetton and chip manufacturer Philips Electronics, the
devices are "imperceptible to the wearer and remain in individual items of
clothing throughout their lifetime." The chips have already begun
appearing in Benetton's "Sisley" clothing line.
Benetton's announcement sparked an immediate firestorm of concern and
outrage among consumers, some of whom liken the technology to the film
"Minority Report," where clothing tags were used to identify individuals
and target them for advertising.
CASPIAN founder and director, Katherine Albrecht, a Harvard University
doctoral candidate and consumer privacy advocate, warns that Benetton's
chips could be used for more than just unwanted advertising.
"Manufacturers of these chips are already promoting them as a way to
track individuals and inventory their belongings. It would be easy for
Benetton to link your name and credit card information to the serial
number in your sweater, in essence 'registering' that sweater to you," she
explained. "Then any time you go near an RFID reader device, the sweater
could beam out your identity to anyone with access to the database -- all
without your knowledge or permission."
This scenario is not far-fetched, according to a 2001 INFORMATIONWEEK
article. There, RFID proponents predicted the creation of a seamless
network of millions of RFID receivers strategically placed around the
globe in airports, seaports, highways, distribution centers, warehouses,
retail stores, and consumers' homes.
CASPIAN is cautioning consumers in all 120 countries where Benetton
products are sold to avoid purchasing Benetton clothing until the
company publicly renounces its involvement with RFID tracking
technology.
Albrecht said, "We would rather go naked than wear clothing tagged with
spy chips."
==============================
Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN) is
a grass-roots consumer group fighting retail surveillance schemes since
1999. With thousands of members around the world and in all 50 U.S.
states, CASPIAN seeks to educate consumers about marketing strategies that
invade their privacy and encourage privacy-conscious shopping habits
across the retail spectrum.
For more information, visit CASPIAN's website at http://www.nocards.org
Katherine Albecht, CASPIAN Founder and Director: 888-353-5659
Mary Starrett, CASPIAN Media Associate: 602-315-6193
==============================
For additional information, see:
Phillips/Benetton press release:
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030311/115697_1.htm
Forbes article illustrating remote inventorying of shoppers' clothing (As
reproduced on Alien Technology's website)
http://www.alientechnology.com/news/The_Internet_of_Things.htm
CASPIAN overview of privacy concerns associated with RFID technology:
http://www.nocards.org/AutoID/overview.shtml
posted by Vetzine
|
|
