Spyware in your Underwear?

A recent article on TheStreet talk Wal-Mart putting RFID tags in its merchandise.  The article questions whether or not this is an invasion of privacy, and some privacy advocates are up in arms about this. According to Wal-Mart the RFID tags can be removed from purchased items. The RFID tags are not personalized to the customer. That is to say, the tags are created with no knowledge or concern of who the customer is. Your name and other personal information is not on the chip. When you wear a pair of Levi’s it doesn’t take an RFID scanner to know you are wearing a pair of Levi’s. Of course the brand of undergarment you wear is generally not visible, so I suppose there is potential for an invasion of privacy there. Still privacy advocates, which I generally consider myself to be, are cautioning that the tags are still active even if you throw them in the trash. This would allow a scanner wielding dumpster diver to know some of the stuff you bought. You probably can destroy the RFID tag with a hammer or pair of scissors. You can also throw the tags away in public garbage cans that do not identify your location. 
The article raises concerns that Wal-Mart will be able to scan your merchandise as well as other RFID enabled documents (continue reading...)