Est. 3min 06-10-2008 (updated: 15-10-2015 ) EPC-RFID-tag.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The French EU Presidency will today (6 October) hold a high-level conference dedicated to building the so-called ‘Internet of Things’. The meeting comes as the Commission prepares to present measures aimed at overcoming privacy concerns related to the use of the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) microchips that are expected to lead the technological revolution. Brussels considers the creation of the ‘Internet of Things’ as a key priority as it could provide solutions for a wide range of societal problems, such as ageing populations. In a future world where ubiquitous tags and sensors would be attached to everything from letters to walls or clothes, the Commission believes many things will be possible. “A blind person might see,” said one information society expert at the EU executive. Indeed, according to the ‘Internet of Things’ vision, objects could communicate among themselves, for instance allowing a blind person to walk down a street knowing exactly what is around him. “This would be done by using a tag reader, able to detect and read the information contained in tags disseminated everywhere,” added the expert. Elderly people could also benefit from household goods that anticipate their needs and requests, such a fridge which orders more eggs from the supermarket once they have run out, or clothes capable of constantly measuring key health indicators, like blood pressure or heartbeat. However, the use of RFID chips also raises concerns regarding the privacy and security of carried information, as tags could contain personal details potentially exploitable by anyone equipped with a tag reader. To address these concerns, the Commission will present, in November, a recommendation to member states encouraging them to adopt initial measures to make people more aware of the existence of RFID embedded in objects or rooms, and to avoid misuse of the new technology. According to the upcoming recommendation, a draft of which has been circulating since April 2008 (EURACTIV 26/02/08), all companies interested in using RFID, from airlines to retailers, will have to draw up a ‘privacy impact assessment’ to verify the potential privacy-related risks of the devices they are using. What’s more, retailers, such as Carrefour or Metro, will be required to de-activate any tags attached to items they sell once the buyer leaves their stores. However, retailers are already resisting such a measure for fear that it will push up their costs and act as a disincentive to the deployment of tags, EURACTIV has learnt. The Commission will also propose two harmonised logos to indicate the presence of RFID in products and tag-filled environments. Awareness-raising campaigns will also be organised and funding is envisaged for projects aimed at developing privacy and security-friendly tag designs. But the RFID revolution still appears distant, hampered not only by privacy and security concerns but also by a lack of international standards. Technical skills are also lacking, with the software industry pointing out that Europe would be incapable of coping with massive deployment of RFID due to a lack of qualified engineers to deal with tags. In September, the EU executive launched a public consultation on the “early challenges of the Internet of Things,” which is expected to result in the publication of an official document in the second quarter of 2009. Read more with Euractiv Parliament backs major telecoms, Internet overhaul The European Parliament yesterday (24 September) approved a broad revision of the rules governing the Internet and telecoms sectors in a bid to boost competition and offer a wider range of services to consumers. Some provisions originally proposed by the Commission have been watered down. Positions Gerald Santucci, in charge of RFID at the European Commission, told EURACTIV: "The Commission is still working on the recommendation. Industry must be encouraged to innovate in a technology that holds potential economic and social benefits, but at the same time citizens have the right to an appropriate level of information, transparency and protection with respect to privacy and data security. We intend to identify the right balance between the obligations for the industry and the level of risk involved." Coline Donon, of Carrefour, one of the leading European retailers, explained to EURACTIV that the group was testing the potential benefits of applying RFID in shops on certain product types, but that at the moment, the use of tags was limited to the management of stocks and warehouses. "Attaching a tag to every item is currently too expensive and complex," she explained. She also warned against the Commission's potential regulatory intervention. "If you regulate before the deployment, there is risk that industry will have no incentive in invest in the new technology. The regulation should be balanced with the existing risks." She underlined the extra costs that would emerge from an obligation to deactivate tags or remove them at the point of sale. "This would force us to have an expensive deactivator at every checkout, while from our point of view, the risks are insignificant for at least three to five years," she stressed. CompTIA, a global ICT industry association, underlined in a letter to the Commission that "there is a dramatic skills gap of qualified ICT professionals who understand the technology". The text adds that "RFID skills shortages should be seriously addressed by national and European policymakers". "The recommendation should therefore include a provision referring to the necessity to take actions to tackle this situation," the document concludes. Monique Goyens, director of BEUC, the European consumers organisation, said: "All new technologies bring their share of advantages and drawbacks. RFID directly affects the very sensitive question of protection of privacy and personal data. Accordingly, all necessary measures must be taken to keep consumers from being relentlessly tracked and profiled." Peter Hustinx, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), in an opinion sent to the Commission, said: "RFID systems could play a key role in the development of the European Information Society but the wide acceptance of RFID technologies should be facilitated by the benefits of consistent data protection safeguards. Self-regulation alone may not be enough to meet the challenge. Legal instruments may therefore be required to guarantee that the technical solutions to minimise the risks for data protection and privacy are in place." BackgroundRadio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are small and relatively low-cost circuits capable of communicating with a fixed or portable device, the reader. Tags, made up of an antenna and a silicone chip, can be attached to consumer goods, packaging and other items, and can also be implanted into animals or even humans. RFID tags have primarily been deployed in the United States, Japan, China and South Korea. In Europe, the market is at a nascent level. According to IDTechEX, a consulting firm specialised on RFID, there are currently two billion tags already deployed worldwide, while in ten years' time, their number is expected to increase 300-fold. Tags are used or can be used in several different sectors, ranging from transport (luggage retrieval) to healthcare (for safer blood transfusion),pharmaceuticals (against counterfeiting) to retail (replacing bar codes), as well as by the military (see our LinksDossier). Timeline 6-7 Oct. 2008: EU French Presidency holds a high level conference on the Internet of Things in Nice. In November, the European Commission plans to present a recommendation on privacy and RFID. In the second quarter of 2009, the Commission plans to present a document on the early challenges of the 'Internet of Things'. Further ReadingEuropean Union European Commission:Memo on RFID(5 March 2008) European Commission:FAQs on RFID European Data Protection Supervisor:Opinion on RFID(23 April 2008) European Commission:Working document on the early challenges of the Internet of Things(September 2008) French Presidency of the EU:Nice Conference on the Internet of Things(6-7 October 2008) [FR] International Organisations OECD:RFID: A focus on information security and privacy(14 January 2008) Business & Industry CompTIA:RFID skills certifications EICTA:Position paper on RFID(27 September 2007) NGOs and Think-Tanks BEUC:Comments on RFID(22 February 2008)
