You are here: silicon.com > Networks > LANs

LANs

Consumers' RFID fear must end - Brussels

We can't go on like this...

Tags: european commission, rfid, viviane reding, reding

By Jo Best

Published: 16 March 2007 15:00 GMT

After pondering RFID technology for a year, the European Commission has decided Europe cannot live without the chips - but privacy concerns that surround them must be resolved.

According to the EC, the market for RFID is growing rapidly and will contribute €7bn to the community's coffers by 2016. The Commission has now announced it intends to put together a 'stakeholder group' which will be charged with working out a European RFID policy.

The stakeholder group and the EC will also club together to work out by 2008 the social and economic impact of RFID and whether there is a need to introduce legislation to govern its use.

Speaking at the CeBIT trade show yesterday, information society & media commissioner Viviane Reding said that following the consultation launched last year, the Commission had discovered privacy concerns among EC citizens.

She said: "The Commission's Europe-wide public consultation in 2006 identified a strong lack of awareness and considerable concern among citizens. The Commission's RFID strategy will therefore seek to raise awareness, stress the absolute need for citizens to decide how their personal data is used and ensure that Europe removes existing obstacles to RFID's enormous potential."

The Commission is now planning to work on convincing the privacy sceptics. Among its arsenal will be a recommendation on how all those involved with RFID can tackle privacy and data security, as well as informing them how existing privacy legislation applies to RFID; and propose an e-privacy directive as part of an upcoming update of telecoms legislation. Both are expected to be completed this year.

A communication on RFID adopted by the EC said: "With wider use, it becomes essential that the implementation of RFID takes place under a legal framework that affords citizens effective safeguards for fundamental values, health, data protection and privacy."

The EC will also analyse issues of spectrum, standards and environmental health surrounding RFID.

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure

Natasha Lomas Exclusive: Jimmy Wales on what's next for Wikipedia Why Wikipedia needs geeks and why a life unplugged is unthinkable

Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: United breaks guitars? Customer service has changed forever


  • Jobs
Senior Planning Policy Officer

To make a significant contribution in community engagement and consultation exercises (e.g.providing advice and assisting in facilitation at ...

Director of Service Security, Privacy and Continuity

Director of Service Security, Privacy and Continuity - Consumer Internet Services Create and implement preventative SW design rules for ensuring ...

Data Privacy expert, Canary Wharf, Contract

A Data Privacy expert is required for a large banking client in Canary Wharf. The successful candidate will have experience with the following: - ...

Agenda Setters 2009
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.





Quick Sitemap Links: