RFID PRIVACY GUIDELINES 2004-11-15 (1)

At the first meeting of EPCglobal's board in Tokyo a year ago, a "full slate" of privacy guidelines was adopted for using RFID (radio frequency identification) technology based on the electronic product code (EPC), said Jack Grasso, spokesman, EPCglobal, Lawrenceville, N.J. EPCglobal is overseeing the standardization and commercialization of the EPC. A privacy policy workgroup is constantly evaluating the guidelines and will update them as required. Here are the guidelines as they currently stand:

orters of this technology, is committed to finding additional cost-effective and reliable alternatives to further enable consumer choice.

Consumer Education: Consumers will have the opportunity to easily obtain accurate information about the EPC and its applications, as well as information about advances in the technology. Companies using EPC tags at the consumer level will cooperate in appropriate ways to familiarize consumers with the EPC logo and help consumers understand the technology and its benefits. EPCglobal would also act as a forum for companies and consumers to learn about and address any uses of EPC technology in a manner inconsistent with these guidelines.

Record Use, Retention and Security: As with conventional bar-code technology, companies will use, maintain and protect records generated through the EPC in compliance with all applicable laws. Companies will publish, on their Web sites or otherwise, information on their policies regarding the retention, use and protection of any consumer-specific data generated through their operations, either generally or specifically with respect to EPC use.