The global journey to secure the driver license
Tagged License Plates in the UK
The UK-based vehicle licence plate manufacturer, Hills Numberplates Ltd, has chosen long-range RFID tags and readers from Identec Solutions to be embedded in licence plates that will automatically and reliably identify vehicles in the UK.
The new e-Plates project uses active (battery powered) RFID tags embedded in the plates to identify vehicles in real time. The result is the ability to reliably identify any vehicle, anywhere, whether stationary or mobile, and - most importantly - in all weather conditions. (Previous visually-based licence plate identification techniques have been hampered by factors such as heavy rain, mist, fog, and even mud or dirt on the plates.)
The e-Plates project has been under development for the past three years at a cost of more than £1 million, and is currently under consideration by a number of administrations. It is hoped that e-Plate will be one of the systems trialled by the UK Government in its forthcoming study of micro-chipped licence plates.
Chipped plates
The plates are the same shape and size as conventional plates, and are permanently fitted to the vehicle in the same way. But each e-Plate contains an embedded tag with a unique, encrypted identification number that is transmitted by the tag for detection by RFID readers. Multiple tags can be read simultaneously by a single reader at speeds of up to 320km per hour (200mph), up to 100 metres (300 feet) away.
The reader network, which includes fixed location readers (for use on the roadside) and portable readers (for use in surveillance vehicles and handheld devices), sends the unique identifier in real time to a central system where it is matched with the corresponding vehicle data such as registration number, owner details, make, model, colour, and tax/insurance renewal dates.
Identities secured
A key benefit of the e-Plate is that the tag provides an encrypted and secure ID code which is registered in the UK Ministry of Transport's vehicle database. This code prevents tampering, cloning, or other forms of fraud that can currently happen with camera-based systems. Additionally, the e-Plate is designed to shatter if anyone tries to remove or otherwise tamper with it, and the tag can be programmed to transmit a warning if any attempt is made to dislodge the plate.
Surveillance applications
The system is expected to be used to identify vehicles for applications such as security, access control, electronic payment, tracking and processing, traffic management, and customer service. Commercial applications could include car dealerships, rental companies, insurance companies, fleet operators, and parking garages. In the public sector, the main applications would include enforcement (compliance with road tax, insurance, and mechanical checks), access control to restricted areas, combating vehicle theft and associated crime, and traffic flow counting and modelling.
According to Richard Taffinder, operations director for Hills Numberplates, the e-Plates were developed to provide companies and public authorities with a more reliable way to positively identify and capture information on a vehicle.
For additional information:
- Visit Hills Numberplates at http://www.e-plate.com
- Visit Identec Solutions at http://www.identecsolutions.com
Source: Identec Solutions Inc.
Reprinted with permission from Using RFID (http://www.usingrfid.com/news)
UsingRFID provides free daily news reports and informative articles about Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, and its applications, users, developers, trials, and implications - for executives, technologists, researchers, developers, vendors, and prospective and current RFID users.
Nice - Big Brother here we come. I'd break any plate with an rfid tag in it.
Posted by: Pete at June 10, 2004 11:29 AMIf this ever crosses the pond to the US, the civil liberties activists will be going nuts.
Posted by: RFID Log at June 10, 2004 11:29 AMHow can somebody write an article like this in good conscience without _mentioning_ the privacy implicatoins this causes?
Posted by: Mike at June 10, 2004 11:32 AMThese read distances are unbelievable, even if they're a powered chip, with all that metal (the car and others around it) around, the signal will be crazy hard to read. I'd be amazed if they could read it at 10m, not 100.
Posted by: Dana at June 10, 2004 11:35 AMYep, this sure has big brother written all over it. It's amazing to what extent society is willing to go to in order to make or save a few bucks.
Posted by: John Doe at June 10, 2004 11:48 AMquote:
The new e-Plates project uses active (battery powered) RFID tags embedded in the plates to identify vehicles
guess the thing doesn't work anymore as soon as you remove the battery
Posted by: john doe at June 10, 2004 12:07 PMquote:
The new e-Plates project uses active (battery powered) RFID tags embedded in the plates to identify vehicles
guess the thing doesn't work anymore as soon as you remove the battery
Posted by: john doe at June 10, 2004 12:08 PMOooh, yeah, like its really not going to be used to make loads of revenue off people speeding!!!
Posted by: Anon at June 10, 2004 12:11 PMprivacy implications? well as long as the RFID tags and the owners names are kept at a some secret database similar to how they do it with ordinary license plates now I don't see why privacy should be at risk.
RFID tags are just easier to identify than license plates but as long as you stick to the law there is no problem.
This article reports just the facts of the technology, not the privacy implications. It doesn't seem particularly biased one way or the other... but yes, this could be a worrying technology for people who regularly break the law. Of course, if you're innocent and law abiding, it's positioning data could also be used as an alabi, couldn't it?
Posted by: eric_amble at June 10, 2004 12:18 PMExactly how does this have 'big brother' written all over it? I agree, the Civ. Lib. people in the U.S. will go nuts, but I think this is one case where they will be grossly unjustified in doing so. So what if someone with a scanner can tell it's my car. It'll make paying tolls on the expressway that much easier. And as for tracing vehicles that have been stolen, this could be wonderful. Another note on those worried about 'big brother': Do you realize how much money is wasted on privacy legislation. Ever hear of 'HIPPA'? And to Dana-this isn't some pie in the sky idea-it's a proven technology that the UK gov't is purchasing, so to say that is won't work is complete bunk.
JDB
Posted by: JDB at June 10, 2004 12:24 PMStick to the law? Great, so my wife's in labor and I'm speeding and I'm gonna get a ticket for that automatically cause the sensors have no f'ing clue why I'm speeding. Awesome. I think I would put an electrical charge to it. Or just hit the plate with a hammer several times, just to make sure.
Posted by: b at June 10, 2004 12:26 PMRemember, Here in the USA driving is a privilege not a right. If you don't like being tracked, walk.
Posted by: John Doe at June 10, 2004 12:28 PMRemember, here in the USA driving is a privilege not a right. If you don't like being tracked, walk.
Posted by: joe doe at June 10, 2004 12:32 PMThis proposal doesn't make a lot of sense. I think that the proposals are being taken out of context. In the US and many other countries the license plate, number plate, tag, or what ever your local name for it is issued to you by the state/government. This is not the case in the UK. When a vehicle is registered a unique number is issued. The car dealer/car owner then makes up a plate. So long as that plate meets the requirements of the law that's it. Vehicle owners can buy very cheap plates using stick-on numbers on the appropriate reflective material, or have custom plates made that include the country ID. If a plate is lost a British driver can just go to a store such as Halfords and have another plate made. British prisoners are not stamping out license plates as in many US states.
It would make far more sense to fit the RFID device permanently to the vehicle.
This whole matter may prove to be mute as there are proposals to fit some sort of two way GPS device to all vehicles and use this to tax drivers according to the distance travelled per month/year.
I suspect that Hills are just trying to position themselves in the marketplace and an amerocentric journalist has misunderstood.
Posted by: Kernow at June 10, 2004 12:38 PMHey John Doe- where do you live in the USA? All the places I've lived, driving is a bloody requirement: public transit in the USA is abysimal, and walking? It's far more dangerous to walk anywhere, and forget about crossing an Interstate highway. Driving is a privledge.... sure. And I suppose getting to work is too.
Posted by: DrTrickNastyE at June 10, 2004 12:42 PMTo paraphrase Ben Franklin - those who give up liberty for the sake of (supposed) safety, deserve neither.
Posted by: Steve at June 10, 2004 12:42 PMHey John Doe- where do you live in the USA? All the places I've lived, driving is a bloody requirement: public transit in the USA is abysimal, and walking? It's far more dangerous to walk anywhere, and forget about crossing an Interstate highway. Driving is a privledge.... sure. And I suppose getting to work is too.
Posted by: Joe Schmoe at June 10, 2004 12:42 PMRegardless if it's a right or a privilege, it's no one's business where I go, when, and / or how. This is another example of information being collected "harmlessly" to make our lives "easier".
Posted by: Mr. Smith at June 10, 2004 12:43 PMI was back in the UK earlier this year and - at the risk of going off topic - during the course of a discussion it became apparent that you can no longer walk into a Halfords to buy a replacement number plate as you once could. Seems you now have to go to an authorised number plate supplier - government regulated and controlled no doubt - and you have to have all the paperwork to prove the plate you want matches the vehicle you want it for and that it is yours.
As for the whole RFID tagged plate, it's just a matter of time before RFID tagging becomes the norm for all kinds of things.
Regardless if it's a right or a privilege, it's no one's business where I go, when, and / or how. This is another example of information being collected "harmlessly" to make our lives "easier".
Posted by: Mr. Smith at June 10, 2004 12:56 PMJust because the contents of the tag are encrypted, doesn't mean that someone couldn't record the output and subject it to a replay attack. I can still STEAL the tag from a similar vehicle and put it on my vehicle... go commit my criminal act and have it blamed on someone else... The battery dies, then what? The tag must have gotten crushed in the minor fenderbender in the lot - sorry it's not working...
Also, even if the signal is encrypted, someone can watch for that particular output and know it's me...
Nope, I don't like this one bit... not one bit at all - too much risk, for no real benefit.
Posted by: Bob Johnshown at June 10, 2004 12:59 PMDriving IS a privilege no matter what country you reside in. It may be a necessity but it is not a devine right due to distances you have to travel to do anything.
If more people treated the granting of their "license to kill" with the thought that it is a privilege and not a right just maybe the standard of driving would go up.
Posted by: philbee at June 10, 2004 01:01 PMBrilliant isn't it...we have a Government prepared to send troops half way round the World in the name of democracy and freedom, yet back home they seem hellbent on continually eroding as many freedoms as they can. If this genuinely does not concern you, why not simply get a chip implanted under your skin so you can be tracked every second of your life? You've got nothing to hide...
Posted by: Phil at June 10, 2004 01:06 PMI don't care if what I'm doing is perfectly legal or not - NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE, should know where I am unless I choose to tell them. Screw convience, I want to control my movements, and part of that control is whether its made public or not.
Posted by: Deanna at June 10, 2004 01:12 PM"Those who would give up their liberty
for the sake of their safety deserve to have neither safety nor liberty." - How many little "pieces" of our freedom will we willingly sacrifice before we recognize that what we call freedom and privacy are not our definition but something that is defined by others?
All you need is a reader reading cars in timed intervals... and instant revenue generation... you speed? You pay the speed tax.
Posted by: I did Jane Doe at June 10, 2004 01:47 PMGot nothing to hide? Then please post details here of your tax records, how much you earned, where you live, where you have been over the last year, how many sexual partners you have had in the last year. If you don't want to post this then SHUT UP with the "nothing to hide, nothing to fear" nonsense.
Posted by: Anon at June 10, 2004 01:48 PMGood old UK. Over crowded, over priced and over governed. The UK's persuit of control over the average man is stunning. No funds for basic services, unlimited funds for technology that can increase government control over it's people. Big Brother just keeps getting bigger, while the populace just rolls over and has its tummy tickled yet again
Posted by: John at June 10, 2004 01:48 PMOh what the heck, why not just go and put a micro chip under my skin while you're at it?
Posted by: David at June 10, 2004 02:18 PMDriving in the USA is a right (freedom of travel, broadly guaranteed by Amendment 9)
Posted by: CXM at June 10, 2004 02:26 PMDriving in the USA is a right (freedom of travel, broadly guaranteed by Amendment 9)
Posted by: CXM at June 10, 2004 02:27 PMTHE RIGHT TO DRIVE: I pity the poor fools who give up their Rights because the State says it is a "privilege". You have the right to do whatever you want (drive, smoke, drink, take drugs, buy sex, suicide, marry, divorce, get fat, become a super model, etc.) as long as your actions do not excessively impose on another person's Rights. You have a Right to free speech, you do not have the Right to defame/slander someone, nor do you have the Right to "shout fire in a crowded movie theater". Stop being a slave of the State and become a free man of Society...
Posted by: Nobody's Business at June 10, 2004 02:37 PMTHE RIGHT TO DRIVE: I pity the poor fools who give up their Rights because the State says it is a "privilege". You have the right to do whatever you want (drive, smoke, drink, take drugs, buy sex, suicide, marry, divorce, get fat, become a super model, etc.) as long as your actions do not excessively impose on another person's Rights. You have a Right to free speech, you do not have the Right to defame/slander someone, nor do you have the Right to "shout fire in a crowded movie theater". Stop being a slave of the State and become a free man of Society...
Posted by: Nobody's Business at June 10, 2004 02:39 PMTHE RIGHT TO DRIVE: I pity the poor fools who give up their Rights because the State says it is a "privilege". You have the right to do whatever you want (drive, smoke, drink, take drugs, buy sex, suicide, marry, divorce, get fat, become a super model, etc.) as long as your actions do not excessively impose on another person's Rights. You have a Right to free speech, you do not have the Right to defame/slander someone, nor do you have the Right to "shout fire in a crowded movie theater". Stop being a slave of the State and become a free man of Society...
Posted by: Nobody's Business at June 10, 2004 02:39 PMTHE RIGHT TO DRIVE: I pity the poor fools who give up their Rights because the State says it is a "privilege". You have the right to do whatever you want (drive, smoke, drink, take drugs, buy sex, suicide, marry, divorce, get fat, become a super model, etc.) as long as your actions do not excessively impose on another person's Rights. You have a Right to free speech, you do not have the Right to defame/slander someone, nor do you have the Right to "shout fire in a crowded movie theater". Stop being a slave of the State and become a free man of Society...
Posted by: John Q. Public at June 10, 2004 02:40 PM5 mins in a microwave should do it. Bet the warantee company going to be busy.
Posted by: Alan Stamp at June 10, 2004 02:48 PMI can see a market for all sorts of jamming and spoofing devices, and passenger seat spouses scanning readouts, listening to headphones and engaging in dialog previously familiar only from films like "Top Gun." Seriously however, driving on public highways has always been defined as a privilege in the U.S., which is why the police can do things there that they could never do away from the road (at least, never before 9/11).
Posted by: johne at June 10, 2004 03:04 PMTo those of you that think that there is no problem having a system like this, hows about putting a chip in your head to identify where you are going,what you are doing,how long you've been there, ect,ect. 1984 at your door.
Posted by: Agent Orange at June 10, 2004 03:26 PMThis is nothing to worry about - remember, you already have a licence plate if anything, it makes it HARDER to track you, as although they can then store the details, they MUST destroy the records by the end of the day UNLESS there has been a crime committed, such as speeding. There is nothing to fear, as any person can read a number plate, but only the police and those with specialised equipment can read an RFID tag. You are all over-reacting, and to be honest, I can't see any valid reason to NOT have this implemented.
Posted by: Matthew Walster at June 10, 2004 04:00 PMTell tony Blair and his Fascist bunch to FO in the next elections. I say, vote UKIP and get rid of these supernumary twats which are digging for new things to validate their jobs. If you think I am having any part of this, or ID tags. No chance. I am a monkey on planet earth and no control freak is going to label my ass. GRRRRRR!!!!!
Posted by: kneegrow at June 10, 2004 04:16 PMTell tony Blair and his Fascist bunch to FO in the next elections. I say, vote UKIP and get rid of these supernumary twits which are digging for new things to validate their jobs. If you think I am having any part of this, or ID tags. No chance. I am a monkey on planet earth and no control freak is going to label my ass. GRRRRRR!!!!!
Posted by: kneegrow at June 10, 2004 04:16 PMThese can be defeated by a small transmitter, and will never work. Great for stock movements, children in sports centres etc but not for car number plates given the use they will be put to.
The British don't care about civil liberties. For some strange reason they trust the government to behave itself. If you have ever tried to purchase anything in the UK you will discover that the government does not behave itself. The brits are policed and taxed to death. They seem to like it though.
Posted by: Anon at June 10, 2004 04:36 PMNo way, absolutely NO WAY am I going to have this on my car.
Posted by: Des D at June 10, 2004 05:30 PMSimple solution Any vehicle fitted with RFID, don't buy it! It's still easy enough to get small plates made in the UK. Had one knocked up yesterday. The more the state wants to know about me, the less I will let them. The research was money down the pan as no-one will have one!
Posted by: BliarOut at June 10, 2004 06:26 PMMy microwave oven would make short work of a tag like this "Sorry, officer, plate not working ? no idea why..."
Posted by: Mike at June 10, 2004 06:34 PMThis is a waste of time. They should embed RFID tags under the skin in humans to cut through the chase.
Posted by: Jan at June 10, 2004 06:42 PMIn most proposed large scale RFID rollouts, the costs outweigh the benefits with a significant margin. This is no exception. You can't put a price on privacy. If I wanted to be fined every time I exceeded the speed limit, pay extra for insurance premiums, and dispense with my ability to disappear into the woodwork I'd fit a device to my car ala Fifth Element's 'you have one point left on your license' gadget. If I wanted to be trackable I'd carry a tag around with me (perhaps subdermal, or even just in clothing tags) which would make Minority Report style monitoring a possibility. And if I wanted to lose my license here in Australia I'd drive down my street at 56km/h (15-30km/h over, 40km/h school zone, double demerit long weekend). With this device every 2nd person would lose their license and anything which depends on it (jobs, partners, etc.). Why so slow? Ask the insurance companies who lobbied for the change(s).
Posted by: Sam at June 10, 2004 06:46 PMIn most proposed large scale RFID rollouts, the costs outweigh the benefits with a significant margin. This is no exception. You can't put a price on privacy. If I wanted to be fined every time I exceeded the speed limit, pay extra for insurance premiums, and dispense with my ability to disappear into the woodwork I'd fit a device to my car ala Fifth Element's 'you have one point left on your license' gadget. If I wanted to be trackable I'd carry a tag around with me (perhaps subdermal, or even just in clothing tags) which would make Minority Report style monitoring a possibility. And if I wanted to lose my license here in Australia I'd drive down my street at 56km/h (15-30km/h over, 40km/h school zone, double demerit long weekend). With this device every 2nd person would lose their license and anything which depends on it (jobs, partners, etc.). Why so slow? Ask the insurance companies who lobbied for the change(s).
Posted by: Sam J at June 10, 2004 06:46 PMHey Agent Orange, do you HONESTLY believe that RFID readers won't be made by other ppl? If there is technology already to listen to ppls phone calls on mobile phones, how is this so different? So when you are being stalked and the stalker has an RFID reader for your car, see how you feel.
Posted by: agent cyan at June 10, 2004 06:59 PMfirst of all, i _really_ hate this kind of 'big brother' control bs, but if this was to be implemented, my reasoning would state that it is perfectly legal (or at least impossible to prove illegal) to drive at 200mph+. with all the time saved while 'cruising' at 200mph on the highways, i think i could even afford to obey the speed limits at the cities & other urban areas...
Good Idea, I think. Yes indeed, driving IS a privelige. It it wasn't there would be no need for a licence. Every car must be registered, and as a result, every car must obey the law. For mine, speeding is one of the worst possible crimes you can commit. I don't care if your wife is in labor, if you speed, god only knows who you could end up killing. To hell with losing your licence, speeders recklessly endanger people's lives. Anything that allows us to enforce the road rules more effectively and reduce the road toll (much greater than terrorism) should be embraced. Besides, it's a secure database, so its not like they're gaining heaps of info about you.
Posted by: Deus at June 10, 2004 09:45 PMSo, just travel faster than 320km/hour! I do it all the time ... ;-)
Posted by: Schumacher at June 10, 2004 11:28 PMThis system would be massively useful for tracking where traffic is flowing for use in planning road networks and actively managing traffic flows during peak times and in accident or bad driving conditions like heavy fog. It is a major step forward in creating safer and better roads. The privacy implications of being better able to capture existing registration details are minor in comparison.
Posted by: Andrew Brown at June 11, 2004 12:13 AMi have been using RFId technolgy in developing case(develping software for reading and writing data on tags) for last 14 months.
we have project for implememnting RFID for vehicle identification and tracking. tags are passive and will be installed on windscreen of vehicle. i want to know whta tags will be best for this solution, passive or active tags.
we are currently implementing passive tags.
but we are concening on weather constraints.
This is another example of trying to apply a technologic fix to a social problem. As it won't stop people driving round with no mot/road tax/insurance. As those people won't be buying the new car with the Tags Fitted.
Posted by: Stephen Plant at June 11, 2004 02:17 AMMissing the point completely as usual. If the government spent more time catching people who drive badly rather than finding easier ways to identify people speeding to raise revenue then the roads would be much safer. Check the Isle of Man with no speed limits for an example. Much safer over there and oddly people do not drive fast even in the unrestricted areas. Driving too close is cause of many more accidents than speed as is pulling out in front of someone. Chipping number plates does not help this case.
Posted by: Dave at June 11, 2004 03:23 AMMissing the point completely as usual. If the government spent more time catching people who drive badly rather than finding easier ways to identify people speeding to raise revenue then the roads would be much safer. Check the Isle of Man with no speed limits for an example. Much safer over there and oddly people do not drive fast even in the unrestricted areas. Driving too close is cause of many more accidents than speed as is pulling out in front of someone. Chipping number plates does not help this case.
Posted by: Dave at June 11, 2004 03:24 AMHey -- why don't they cut out the middle man and just implant chips straight into our bodies?
Posted by: Nick Tyrrell at June 11, 2004 03:41 AMgreat, i'll be stealing the chip off someone elses plate and putting my foot to the floor!
Big Brother big mess.
great, i'll be stealing the chip off someone elses plate and putting my foot to the floor!
Big Brother big mess.
And you will accept it
Posted by: We Will at June 11, 2004 04:52 AMThis technology would be good for taxing by the mile. The government would make a killing. We could see budget rises of a penny on the tax mile. ha-ha.
Posted by: Rob at June 11, 2004 04:58 AMwhat happens when there is accident damage !!! new plate encoded ,, more cost .. insurance prices rise .
Well done goverment
on the driving test can you use a plate reader rather than prove you can see the number plate !!!! i think not
how is it going to help the public could still be a copy number plate
Those who say that the loss of liberty is outweighed by the gain in safety, do not understand the loss of liberty that this technology could bring.
I would only even *start thinking about accepting this if the keys to translate the coded tag into my index were held by a separate "Data Custodian" who viciously defended my privacy until a suitable court order is handed down allowing the release of my key. I would be happier still if the code emmitted by the RFID tag rolled every N hours in a manner prediactable only if you have the key.
I am not being paranoid, I am being suitably cautious of the future governments we have yet to get. We don't know who they will be. Why on earth should we be happy to trust them with this sort of immensely powerful tool for control.
I am very disappointed to hear the old Totalitarian sop "If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear" repeated so often these days. This is exactly the same phrase as "I trust this and all future States to be trustworthy and honest, to respect me and my rights, to not criminalise and then persecute sections of the population for the purposes of diverting attention away from their own failures." Frankly, we have watched the 2004 UK government do all of these things.
Those who say that the loss of liberty is outweighed by the gain in safety, do not understand the loss of liberty that this technology could bring.
I would only even *start thinking about accepting this if the keys to translate the coded tag into my index were held by a separate "Data Custodian" who viciously defended my privacy until a suitable court order is handed down allowing the release of my key. I would be happier still if the code emmitted by the RFID tag rolled every N hours in a manner prediactable only if you have the key.
I am not being paranoid, I am being suitably cautious of the future governments we have yet to get. We don't know who they will be. Why on earth should we be happy to trust them with this sort of immensely powerful tool for control.
I am very disappointed to hear the old Totalitarian sop "If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear" repeated so often these days. This is exactly the same phrase as "I trust this and all future States to be trustworthy and honest, to respect me and my rights, to not criminalise and then persecute sections of the population for the purposes of diverting attention away from their own failures." Frankly, we have watched the 2004 UK government do all of these things.
What a stalkers dream! Imagine knowing what time that an auto passes a certain point everyday. When crimanls know peoples patterns, it becomes pretty easy to prey upon them.
Posted by: Jay C at June 11, 2004 08:20 AMOh baby just wait until I figure out how these work!
In no time I'll design some hardware and write a small java program to modify the information (from a laptop on the road)!
I would have an on/off switch and as many other people's "encrypted" signals as I wanted.
Good stuff guys, this means giving up privacy so a high-tech criminal can get away with _anything_.
I am certain that I could make the hardware/software to hack this device, so surely criminals aren't technically challenged!
I will fight to the death before something like this is used in the USA.
Posted by: Fancy at June 11, 2004 11:50 AMGuys I guess there should be funds dedicated to educating the public on the pros and cons of implementing these technologies. Most of us are only assuming things and some of us are not even willing to listen. As far as I understand there will be a huge cost implication to install RFID readers everywhere.. max at traffic lights or tool booths or speed cameras and some portable handheld readers with the authorities. So rest assured it should be fairly similar to someone noting your number plate in a wrong place than anyone being able to trace u 24hrs a day. What needs to be debated is perhaps how the readers will be deployed and the encription handled. I guess we all are comfortable with wireless technologies in our lives and this is just another wireless device on your kerb side parking. I wouldn't give it more credit than that at the cost of the benifits that it brings along.
Posted by: Earl at June 11, 2004 02:08 PMRFID's can be invalidated by a couple of seconds in a microwave.
Posted by: John Doe II at June 12, 2004 10:19 AMRFID's can be invalidated by a couple of seconds in a microwave.
Posted by: John Doe II at June 12, 2004 10:20 AMHey,blind mice!Revelation 13:16-18...And he causeth all,both small and great, rich and poor,free and bond, to recieve a mark IN THEIR RIGHT AND IN THEIR FORHEADS;and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had THE MARK,or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.Here is wisdom,let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast;for it is the number of a man;and his number is 666.
Posted by: 666ru4it at June 12, 2004 04:04 PMMatch this with UK car insurer Norwich Union announcing their new "Pay as you Drive" (tm) Insurance. "A small telematics device fitted to their car collects and transmits data to us on where, when and how often they drive". I'll wager a fiver that it will not be long before Home Secretary David Blunkett wants his hooks into that data routinely, and stored for up to 5 years!!
Posted by: Jeff at June 12, 2004 04:24 PMwell, remove the big plate, leave the rfid - how nice - cars without license plates look more stylish anyway - i mean - thats what we want - style, cash, girls, food, sex, music, orgy, alcohol, drugs, war, domination - right - isnt that what yu all looooong for?? stop buying the shit and it will be taken from the shelves next monday.
Posted by: jaguar at June 14, 2004 02:07 AMthis just gets the government's foot in the door - more will follow...
they can already track you with your bank/credit card transactions, your phone calls, your cell phone signal, etc... in return for your private information and whereabouts they offer you convenience - welcome to the new world
Posted by: phil reisberg at June 14, 2004 03:34 AMNo one carry a mobile phone then?
Grow up!
Posted by: Reality Check at June 14, 2004 08:49 AMIts a question of what exactly the RFID tag transmits. It may actually be safe if it is well encrypted and only authorities have access to the database. But it doesnt eliminate the danger of having someone stalk or even impersonate you.
Posted by: rfiwhat at June 14, 2004 01:59 PMIts a question of what exactly the RFID tag transmits. It may actually be safe if it is well encrypted and only authorities have access to the database. But it doesnt eliminate the danger of having someone stalk or even impersonate you.
Posted by: rfiwhat at June 14, 2004 01:59 PMI would like a similar technology to be in place. if speeding does cause accidents, as is the claim, and speeding is illegal for a valid reason, then i would like GPS in every car which would not notify them when you do speed, but would give you the optional choice to enable speeding-supression which would stop you from being able to speed (by your choice). That is a legitimate use of a similar technology that does what the PR story says is the goal. Not just charge people for speeding, thereby enabling rich people to speed with little consequence, while poor people are unable to pay for the ticket out of their smaller pockets. I would prefer no transmission of anything, especially if you're on "governed mode", because you cannot be breaking the speeding law. but have remote "enable tracking" so you can pinpoint stolen vehicles, or if someone is "on the run" or something they can be found. Once you commit a crime, you dont have the privledges that the rest of us do - and that includes driving, or what-have-you.
Posted by: Justin at June 15, 2004 05:55 PMThis is one reason why i have an old car without the GPS, Navigation, OnStar, EasyPass stuff on it. As for speeding. It still has not been proven that speeding in and of itself is a danger on highways or other places away from pedestrians. Therefore I object to the use of tracking devices to extort money from me for the state.
Posted by: Sondjata Olatunji at June 15, 2004 06:03 PMFirst post!
Posted by: Ken 'Caesar' Fisher at June 15, 2004 06:33 PMOh No! Someone might be able to read my license plate from 25 feet away with an RFID reader! Oh wait, all they have to do is just look at my license plate from 25 feet away.
Posted by: Trevor at June 15, 2004 06:52 PM***************
I think they should make it optional, if you want one, you can have one, if you feel it is a huge breach of privacy and you dont want some dirty double crossing intel agency to have your whereabouts recorded without them having to put someone on you, well you should be free to do that too.
BIG BROTHER IS NOT COOL AND ONCE HE IS HERE THERE IS NO GOING BACK.
NO NWO
Posted by: BIGGER BROTHER at June 15, 2004 07:03 PMSome people are like sheep. They’d have no problem if they put the RFID tag up their arse and tattooed the barcode on their forehead.
Anybody with a ‘friend” can run your license plate now, and I seriously doubt that the records from RFID readers would be any more secret. Just wait and see the printout you’ll get showing all your moves from your insurance company doubling your rate, because the particular route you’re taking to work is more dangerous than usual.
Whoa! This is kinda scary, now no one will ever need to actually put a tracking device on a car, they will already be there and turned on!! Of course we are to trust that identies will be held private, yea right!!
Posted by: tracyv at June 15, 2004 09:22 PMWhoa! This is kinda scary, now no one will ever need to actually put a tracking device on a car, they will already be there and turned on!! Of course we are to trust that identies will be held private, yea right!! Oh if you don't want to be tracked leave your mobile phone off until you want to use it, then power it on make a call, power it off. And no more telling the insurance company that oyu only drive 5k miles!
Posted by: tracyv at June 15, 2004 09:24 PMWhy is privacy being invaded?
So it could be used to cut down on speeding? So what?
Big Brother... Oh, please, grow up people.
Good idea, bring it in with national ID cards.
Posted by: Andrew at June 16, 2004 06:20 AMWhy is privacy being invaded?
So it could be used to cut down on speeding? So what?
Big Brother... Oh, please, grow up people.
Good idea, bring it in with national ID cards.
Posted by: Andrew at June 16, 2004 06:22 AMWhy is privacy being invaded?
So it could be used to cut down on speeding? So what?
Big Brother... Oh, please, grow up people.
Good idea, bring it in with national ID cards.
Posted by: Andrew at June 16, 2004 06:23 AMSeems the police state of Britain is getting closer by the day. All our government wants is to tax us to death and this is another collection method. You would think they make enough from speed camera fines and petrol tax, but hey lets sqeeze a little more. Me im out of here as soon as
Posted by: Jeff at June 16, 2004 06:50 AMSeems the police state of Britain is getting closer by the day. All our government wants is to tax us to death and this is another collection method. You would think they make enough from speed camera fines and petrol tax, but hey lets sqeeze a little more. Me im out of here as soon as
Posted by: Jeff at June 16, 2004 06:50 AMSeems the police state of Britain is getting closer by the day. All our government wants is to tax us to death and this is another collection method. You would think they make enough from speed camera fines and petrol tax, but hey lets sqeeze a little more. Me im out of here as soon as
Posted by: Jeff at June 16, 2004 06:54 AMOk, so it is optional. Just like these new biometric passports. but will it be possible to get an unchipped numberplate. there is a world of difference between something that is not compulsory and having a choice.
Posted by: Me at June 16, 2004 07:02 AMTOO MUCH INFORMATION! Big Brother will not be able to handle the volume generated by this scattershot approach, and we are back to the "security through obscurity" failures of the present. This is just another wild-assed experiment to add to the taxpayers' woes.
Posted by: nolimits at June 16, 2004 07:39 AMI'm wondering if those who are saying "no one should be allowed to know where I am" realize the government will know the location of your VEHICLE, not you. I am from the states, so I have less problem with the proposal than others might, but it seems illogical for anyone to say that they have a right that supercedes the publics right to control the roadways. ThHere is nothing quite as dangerous (or powerful) as a 3000-pound lump of metal traveling at 80 miles an hour.
Posted by: Tristan at June 16, 2004 10:22 AMUs Brits are experts at information management. I had to find out about this here :) The quality of debate in the UK on anything is pretty weak and we gratefully accept whatever is served up. Personally I'm all for it. Car drivers are a bloody burden on society and I favour public transport and dont drive. However, I doubt the full privacy issues have ever been dealt with, there is a serious risk of abuse. For one thing, anybody can construct a device to register passing cars. Even if the government and local authorities manage this information well, what's to say private firms sampling the data will behave?
Posted by: Joe at June 16, 2004 10:54 AMFaraday cage countermeasures will be developed. Sort of like taking off your wedding ring when you go into a bar.
Posted by: a_eng at June 16, 2004 12:06 PMThis is disgusting. I agree with past poster: Smash all of these evil plates.
Posted by: Karl at June 16, 2004 12:42 PMDarn. I thought "rfidnews" was a website AGAINST the use of chips, and was monitoring their "progress." You Brits are not men if you accept this madness in your cars. As for the Yanks, I hope they resist this before it arrives. Remember THIS: If your government ever becomes corrupt, you won't be able to oppose it, because you'll all be chipped so deeply that your movements and activities will always be known. Democracies whould be about the PEOPLE having the power, and not the government itself!!!!
Posted by: George Orwell at June 16, 2004 01:01 PMI hate people syaing that we shouldn't speed. First of all, speed limits are to slow already and the have been many studies that say people who drive slowly among cars going faster tend to cause accidents. In IL, there is even a law saying that if you go to slow, even if everyone else is above the speed limit, you can get a ticket for that.
Posted by: Lina Inverse at June 16, 2004 03:19 PMAbout the privacy factor... I guess that means we shouldnt use our credit cards or cellphones too huh?
Posted by: Issac Kim at June 17, 2004 01:33 AMWe get shafted all the time in the uk, (tv licence,road tax,fuel tax,ciggy tax,beer tax) If you dont like it move to the 3rd world there u can be free'ish a king maybe.
ps. u can be tracked now in uk to within 100 meters just by having your mobile switched on (and that information does not have to be deleted).
uk vic.
Posted by: UK Victim at June 17, 2004 05:57 AMWe get shafted all the time in the uk, (tv licence,road tax,fuel tax,ciggy tax,beer tax) If you dont like it move to the 3rd world there u can be free'ish or a king maybe.
ps. u can be tracked now in uk to within 100 meters just by having your mobile switched on (and that information does not have to be deleted).
uk vic.
Posted by: UK Victim at June 17, 2004 05:59 AMI agree with Karl (pehaps we should all move to amsterdam, they dont care what u do)
We get shafted all the time in the uk, (tv licence,road tax,fuel tax,ciggy tax,beer tax) If you dont like it move to the 3rd world there u can be free'ish or a king maybe.
ps. u can be tracked now in uk to within 100 meters just by having your mobile switched on (and that information does not have to be deleted).
uk vic.
Posted by: UK Victim at June 17, 2004 06:01 AMEverybody here talking about the UKconstantly removing civil liberties and controlling it's citizens - Replace "UK" with "USA" and multiply it by 10. It's getting severely out of hand over here as well.
Posted by: Jim at June 17, 2004 08:57 AMWhen it comes to removing civil liberties, replace UK with USA and multiply it by 10. It is severely out of hand over here as well.
Posted by: Jim at June 17, 2004 08:59 AMI'll be ready with my 45 Colt for this crap if if it crosses the pond.
Posted by: USA Joe at June 18, 2004 02:16 PMgood god,..*rolls her eyes, do we really have a choice?. Microwaves, hammers, opinions, it seems like we have a choice in what happens with us. I think the people who have stated ideas about it not being a bad idea or better for driving conditions or don't like it walk mentality are the exact little minds big brother will have easy access over. Personally I do not have answers, listening to others, trying not to speed, trying not to be a fanatic, trying not to bend over...is quite a task now a days.
Posted by: janecanadian at June 19, 2004 05:31 PMThis "control the masses" technology would be the final straw for me. With CCTV on every corner, speed cameras on every lamp post all paid for by rediculaously high taxes it would be time to leave the Country......and I am not alone!!! It's time that Governments realised that George Orwell wrote fiction and real people just won't put up with Britain as a Police State, they have a choice!
Posted by: andy p at June 20, 2004 10:24 AMProblem is privacy is near nil in all nations, even the good old US. Freedom to do what you like is here, are you blind to this. As well if it feels good do it comess in to play also. These ideas all line up and take our privacy away as well as the constant monitor the govt. put on our phones. The Civil liberties groups are a little slow on the draw aren't they.
Posted by: David at June 29, 2004 11:28 PMProblem is privacy is near nil in all nations, even the good old US. Freedom to do what you like is here, are you blind to this. As well if it feels good do it comess in to play also. These ideas all line up and take our privacy away as well as the constant monitor the govt. put on our phones. The Civil liberties groups are a little slow on the draw aren't they.
Posted by: David at June 29, 2004 11:29 PMProblem is privacy is near nil in all nations, even the good old US. Freedom to do what you like is here, are you blind to this. As well if it feels good do it comess in to play also. These ideas all line up and take our privacy away as well as the constant monitor the govt. put on our phones. The Civil liberties groups are a little slow on the draw aren't they.
Posted by: David at June 29, 2004 11:30 PMThe answer is simple ! Fix the tag to the vahicle and the only info held on the tag is 1. vehicle identification no and 2. The registration no. The result is no invasion of privacy because we can read the number plate anyway. It is no different to what already happens just a different implementation.Its really that easy. P.S. Tag should be passive(i.e. no battery)
Posted by: brian james at July 9, 2004 08:44 AMThe answer is simple ! Fix the tag to the vahicle and the only info held on the tag is 1. vehicle identification no and 2. The registration no. The result is no invasion of privacy because we can read the number plate anyway. It is no different to what already happens just a different implementation.Its really that easy. P.S. Tag should be passive(i.e. no battery)
Posted by: brian james at July 9, 2004 08:44 AMThe answer is simple ! Fix the tag to the vahicle and the only info held on the tag is 1. vehicle identification no and 2. The registration no. The result is no invasion of privacy because we can read the number plate anyway. It is no different to what already happens just a different implementation.Its really that easy. P.S. Tag should be passive(i.e. no battery)
Posted by: brian james at July 9, 2004 08:45 AMGreat job opportunity for us engineers.
Posted by: Jay at July 29, 2004 10:39 AMListen you whinie baybies,why are you so concerned "NOW" about privacy??.....already your home phone can be trapped (eavese dropping) remotely while it is hung up, your home computer can be dialed into quietly after you have longed off, by (govt??private hackers),your cable or satelite tv has a viewing camera and audio mic built
in for remote viewing (spying), your cell phone is trackable, the RFID chips are already on your vehicles.Some of you give out your finger prints to get D.L. renewed. You give out your social security no. to people like cheap candy.You use your trackable credit cards like they are going out of style. Protect yourselves:unplug the computer from the phone (satelite, cable) connection when finished (and TV's).Unplug your phones (maybe not practicle??) Stop giving out your social security no's. You can prevent privacy envasion issues from hurting you. Find out what technologies are out there and how they work and then you can take steps to protect yourselves.
Listen you whinie baybies,why are you so concerned "NOW" about privacy??.....already your home phone can be trapped (eavese dropping) remotely while it is hung up, your home computer can be dialed into quietly after you have longed off, by (govt??private hackers),your cable or satelite tv has a viewing camera and audio mic built
in for remote viewing (spying), your cell phone is trackable, the RFID chips are already on your vehicles.Some of you give out your finger prints to get D.L. renewed. You give out your social security no. to people like cheap candy.You use your trackable credit cards like they are going out of style. Protect yourselves:unplug the computer from the phone (satelite, cable) connection when finished (and TV's).Unplug your phones (maybe not practicle??) Stop giving out your social security no's. You can prevent privacy envasion issues from hurting you. Find out what technologies are out there and how they work and then you can take steps to protect yourselves.
Listen you whinie baybies,why are you so concerned "NOW" about privacy??.....already your home phone can be trapped (eavese dropping) remotely while it is hung up, your home computer can be dialed into quietly after you have longed off, by (govt??private hackers),your cable or satelite tv has a viewing camera and audio mic built in for remote viewing (spying), your cell phone is trackable, the RFID chips are already on your vehicles.Some of you give out your finger prints to get D.L. renewed. You give out your social security no. to people like cheap candy.You use your trackable credit cards like they are going out of style. Protect yourselves:unplug the computer from the phone (satelite, cable) connection when finished (and TV's).Unplug your phones (maybe not practicle??) Stop giving out your social security no's. You can prevent privacy envasion issues from hurting you. Find out what technologies are out there and how they work and then you can take steps to protect yourselves.
Posted by: big tex at August 5, 2004 01:00 PMListen you whinie baybies,why are you so concerned "NOW" about privacy??.....already your home phone can be trapped (eavese dropping) remotely while it is hung up, your home computer can be dialed into quietly after you have longed off, by (govt??private hackers),your cable or satelite tv has a viewing camera and audio mic built in for remote viewing (spying), your cell phone is trackable, the RFID chips are already on your vehicles.Some of you give out your finger prints to get D.L. renewed. You give out your social security no. to people like cheap candy.You use your trackable credit cards like they are going out of style. Protect yourselves:unplug the computer from the phone (satelite, cable) connection when finished (and TV's).Unplug your phones (maybe not practicle??) Stop giving out your social security no's. You can prevent privacy envasion issues from hurting you. Find out what technologies are out there and how they work and then you can take steps to protect yourselves.
Posted by: big tex at August 5, 2004 01:01 PMCheck out http://www.tomshardware.com/business/20040730/black_hat-01.html for an article detailing some of the potential risks.
It seems to me that big businesses (govmnts included) will benefit, and we won't see any tangible gain ourselves. Does this seem like a perpetually recurring trend to anyone else?
 |
