Libraries Eye RFID To Track Books

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today sent a letter to the San Francisco Public Library Commission (SFPLC) warning of privacy concerns in the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging of library books.

http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Surveillance/RFID/20031002_eff_pr.php

The SFPLC is considering a budget for RFID technology for the library system starting in 2004 with implementation starting in 2005. Under the plan, San Francisco libraries would place a computerized chip in library books and other materials to facilitate tracking of the books through the library system as well as on loans to patrons. Library staff, as well as potentially other persons, could use RFID sensor devices to determine the location, title, and potentially other information about the library materials.

According to MSNBC:

Lee Tien, a staff lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, is concerned that the chips may have information that would remain accessible and trackable, whether by ingenious hackers or law enforcement subpoena. That, he says, would be a threat to privacy rights.

Some of the foundation’s concerns are rooted in the provisions of the USA Patriot Act, which critics have assailed as giving government the authority to obtain the records and threatening the privacy and First Amendment rights of library and bookstore patrons.

For more background on RFID, read articles in:
New York Times
RFID Journal
Vernon TAGSYS RFID Library System

Posted by Tom on October 06, 2003