Q: Would you invest in a particularly useful technolgy even though you had concerns about it’s potential misuse?
Betty is, okay, I am considering invetsing in RFID, as it’s an incredible, useful innovation, but it’s potential makes me nervous.
Large companies are signing up for it in droves for use in storerooms, shipping etc, and if one were to invest, one would make a considerable amount of money as it became more widespread.
Think of it as a barcode, but with three main differences:
- RFID can be tracked at a distance, (about 20 feet);
- Every barcode on the same item has the same number, whereas, every RFID tag on the same item has an individual number for each item.
- RFID tags are a lot harder to destroy than barcodes.
Ergo, it has enormous potential for surveillance, and if misused, would be power beyond the stasi’s wildest dreams… And without starting a political discussion, I think it can safely be said that human beings have a history of abusing power.
As an aside, RFID has already gone into high denomination yen notes and euros, which potentially removes the anonymity of cash. But on the other hand, it would be an incredibly profitable investment.
What do you think?
