RFID talking shop opens to win over privacy groups

The concerns of shoppers, civil liberties groups and privacy advocates over the implications of RFID seem to have finally registered with some tech vendors.

While most RFID watchers say that it will be cost not privacy worries that will slow down adoption of the technology, SAP is hoping to soothe the doubters with a series of talking shops.

SAP will be attempting to bring vendors, political groups, industry figures and civil libertarians together at CeBIT 2005 and other trade shows to try and get the two sides to find common ground.

It also intends to start an online forum aimed at those with a business interest in the tracking chips, but open to those who want to spread the technology as well as those who would rather see it stopped altogether.

The forum should be up and running in October of this year, according to the company.

SAP executive board member Claus Heinrich said that for RFID to take off, the public at large must be convinced it has benefit.