Internet security & consumer technology

Privacy and vulnerability in technology are among the topics we're discussing this morning here in Seattle, including concerns associated with fingerprint, facial and iris recognition systems. On the other end of the spectrum, we're discussing transparency on the Internet. Legislating technology is an interesting subject and one that can change by the day. I came here specifically wanting to learn about trends to regulate the use of RFID in identity documents, and we'll be talking about that in more detail later this afternoon.

Consider this regarding privacy: the technology is in place to allow teachers to keep track of students and even call the roll elecronically through student ID cards that contain RFID technology. We're already beginning to see these discrete RFID tags implemented in all sorts of products. Once this technology falls into the wrong hands, though, it can be used in ways against people that haven't even been considered today. This will eventually be the center of some legislation in all sorts of areas, and there will need to be parameters in place to limit the use of RFID by big brother as well.