[Reader-list] RFID for security and privacy?

[Prem Chandavarkar]

Dear Jeebesh,
In response to your question, I would like to cite the English utilitarian
philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) who came up with an architectural
concept for the design of prisons which was called the "panopticon".
Bentham's design called for the jail cells to be arranged in a circle.  At
the centre of the circle is a guard tower whose windows have closely spaced
louvers that are designed such that the guard within can look out at the
jail cells, but from the jail cells the prisoners cannot tell whether a
guard is within the tower.  The jail cells are divided from each other by
opaque walls, so the prisoners cannot see each other, and therefore, cannot
coordinate their behaviour.  A guard does not even have to occupy the tower
at all times - an occasional visit will suffice.  While each prisoner cannot
see whether the guard is in the tower, they also cannot tell whether the
guard is absent from the tower.  The mere possibility of always being within
the spotlight of surveillance makes the prisoner behave properly (that is in
the manner that the guard expects him to behave).  Bentham seemed to see
this as a humane solution, as power and/or coercision do not have to be
overtly applied, and even perpetual surveillance is not required - its mere
possibility is sufficient.  Again, this threat needs to be perceived only by
those who are likely to forment dissent, as the larger majority will tend to
follow such leaders.

It could therefore be argued that in this digital age of data mining and
RFID tags, Bentham's panopticon is now being extended to all of society.  If
one buy's into Bentham's concept that the perpetual possibility of
surveillance is the best way to achieve order in an otherwise unruly
society, then you could argue that an electronic tagging system will help to
make citizens secure.  While I have not come across anyone explicitly citing
Bentham's panopticon, I suspect that this is the logic that is being
applied.

This of course assumes a buy-in to the following assumptions (which although
they appear philosophically problematic, are fairly symptomatic of
contemporary governance):

1. A society left to itself without adequate supervision will tend toward
becoming unruly (The "Lord of the Flies" argument).

2. For the emergence of stable social order, the vertical connections
between the citizen and the state (a social contract??) are of greater
importance than the lateral connections between citizens.

Regards,
Prem



On 06/03/2008, Jeebesh Bagchi <jeebesh at sarai.net> wrote:
>
> dear Razdan,
>
> Aditya Kaul referred you as someone who can explain the RFID
> technologies relation to citizen's empowerment. Enclosed below is a
> news report that claims "citizens the tools and choices they nee to
> ensure privacy and security"?. Was wondering how an electronic
> tagging system make citizens secure. Will be nice if you could help
> us understand this.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> warmly
>
> jeebesh
>
>
> On 06-Mar-08, at 6:01 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul wrote:
>
> > One of friends Aditya Razdan is an expert in RFID Technology in entire
> > South-Asia.He works as the Regional Sales Manager- South
> > Asia<http://www.orkut.com/UniversalSearch.aspx?q=%22Regional+Sales
> > +Manager-+South+Asia%22>
> > of
> > AssA Abloy ITG<http://www.orkut.com/UniversalSearch.aspx?q=%22AssA
> > +Abloy+ITG%22>.
> > Their website is http://www.aaitg.com
> >
> > He can be also reached at razdan.aditya at gmail.com
> >
> > Thanks
> > Aditya Raj Kaul
> >
> >
> > On 3/6/08, Jeebesh Bagchi <jeebesh at sarai.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> dear all,
> >>
> >> here is a news item. can anybody in the list please explain how RFID
> >> technologies will enhance "citizens the tools and choices they need
> >> to ensure privacy and security"?
> >>
> >> warmly
> >>
> >> jeebesh
> >>
> >> http://www.igovernment.in/site/ec-launches-consultation-on-rfid-
> >> usage-
> >> issues/
> >>
> >>
> >> EC launches consultation on RFID usage issues
> >> Prithwi
> >> March 6, 2008 | RFID & Smart Card and e-Gov. |
> >>
> >> Brussels: The European Commission (EC) launched a public consultation
> >> on the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology issues
> >> relating to privacy, data protection and information security.
> >>
> >> The Commission has requested inputs relating to scope of RFID, its
> >> use in the retail sector and role in information security, and need
> >> for awareness-raising activities, reports ePractice.
> >>
> >> Predicting that the RFID market will grow rapidly over the next 10
> >> years, the Commission said that RFID technology is expected to create
> >> many new opportunities for European business.
> >>
> >> It further said the public sector would see a lot of RFID technology
> >> usage including e-Government, national defence and security, apart
> >> from usage in consumer field including personal safety, sports and
> >> leisure, smart homes and smart cities.
> >>
> >> The public consultation has been launched to support preparation of
> >> the Commission's forthcoming 'Recommendation on RFID', due to be
> >> adopted later in 2008.
> >>
> >> The key challenge for the recommendation will be to devise a common
> >> vision and set goals of how it can keep Europe innovative and
> >> competitive in the world economy, giving citizens the tools and
> >> choices they need to ensure privacy and security.
> >> —iGovernment Bureau
> >>
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