EC launches public consultation on RFID

Brussels wants to know what you think about RFID (radio frequency ID) technologies.

The European Commission has kicked off an online public consultation on how it can make sure the growing use of RFID tags and related technology boosts European competitiveness and improves quality of life — while at the same time ensuring privacy safeguards remain in place.

Privacy and data protection concerns arise when RFID tags relate to people, according to the consultation background document — not only when people use RFID tags for identification and access to services but also when products with RFID tags are transferred to consumers. The consultation will also look at areas such as health, environmental, interoperability and spectrum requirements for the technology.

Information society and media commissioner, Viviane Reding, who announced the consultation back in March: "We need to build a society-wide consensus on the future of RFID. We need to ensure that RFID technology delivers on its economic potential and to create the right opportunities for its use for the wider public good, while ensuring that citizens remain in control of their data."

Keen to prevent the fragmented implementation of RFID technologies across Europe, the EC wants to create policy quickly in this area. It has held a number of workshops considering issues such as interoperability, international compatibility and radio spectrum allocation.

Industry and the public are now invited to respond to questions in the consultation and there are hopes this will help form an idea of what sort of policy is needed to encourage companies to invest in RFID technology, while at the same time safeguarding individuals' privacy and security.

In October the conclusions of the workshops and consultation will be revealed, before the EC presents its official position to the European Parliament and Council.