RFID, which stands for Radio Frequency IDentification, is a technology that uses computer chips smaller than a grain of sand to track items from a distance. And as this mind-blowing book explains, plans and efforts are being made now by global corporations and the U.S government to turn this advanced technology, these spychips, into a way to track our daily activities-and keep us all on Big Brother's short leash. Compiling massive amounts of research with firsthand knowledge, Spychips explains RFID technology and reveals the history and future of the master planners' strategies to imbed these trackers on everything-from postage stamps to shoes to people themselves-and spy on Americans without our knowledge or consent. It also urgently encourages consumers to take action now-to protect their privacy and civil liberties before it's too late.
Spychips
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Dr. Katherine Albrecht is the founder and director of CASPIAN, an international consumer group. Dubbed the "Erin Brockovich" of RFID by Wired magazine, she is one of the leading voices for privacy in today's fast-changing, high-tech world. Katherine holds a doctorate in education from Harvard University.
Liz McIntyre is an award-winning investigative writer with a flair for exposing corporate shenanigans and bureaucratic misdeeds. She serves as CASPIAN's communications director and has been the master strategist for many of the organization's most successful media campaigns.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
109 of 133 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book covers, in detail, the existing use of RF technology to violate consumer privacy. RF chips are small and innocuous. RF chips can easily be seen as a benign technology if used appropriately (for example to reduce shoplifting by enhancing loss protection capabilities of retail stores and improved stock management).
The authors have identified numerous examples of multinational companies misusing RF chip technology.
The research behind this book appears both thorough and comprehensive. The use of statements lifted from patents really helps the authors make their case that these chips are likely to be put to use in ways the majority of us would find disturbing if not repugnant.
Negatives: the style of writing is very sensationalist. The mix of editorial comment and research lessons the impact of some of the material presented. The material sometimes lacks context: almost any technology can be abused. Also, in some instances loss of privacy may be a reasonable trade off for improved service/protection.
Also, RF Chips are not a unique risk (add data mining, "smart" chips and even car electronics - e.g. the chip that operates airbags,in some models, will record the impact speed of an accident).
The book draws on examples from around the World. US consumers have more to worry about than Canada, Australia and Europe where there is at least some protection from data protection legislation. US Privacy legislation lags behind (could this possibly be the result of lobbying by corporate political action committees?).
The bottom line is that the authors are right to raise a very loud warning to act on misuse of this technology, before it is too late.
The authors have identified numerous examples of multinational companies misusing RF chip technology.
The research behind this book appears both thorough and comprehensive. The use of statements lifted from patents really helps the authors make their case that these chips are likely to be put to use in ways the majority of us would find disturbing if not repugnant.
Negatives: the style of writing is very sensationalist. The mix of editorial comment and research lessons the impact of some of the material presented. The material sometimes lacks context: almost any technology can be abused. Also, in some instances loss of privacy may be a reasonable trade off for improved service/protection.
Also, RF Chips are not a unique risk (add data mining, "smart" chips and even car electronics - e.g. the chip that operates airbags,in some models, will record the impact speed of an accident).
The book draws on examples from around the World. US consumers have more to worry about than Canada, Australia and Europe where there is at least some protection from data protection legislation. US Privacy legislation lags behind (could this possibly be the result of lobbying by corporate political action committees?).
The bottom line is that the authors are right to raise a very loud warning to act on misuse of this technology, before it is too late.
58 of 71 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
RFID chips are tiny tracking devices that can be attached to or embedded in nearly anything -- and ultimately will be if industry and governments have their way. They broadcast information about an item and its possessor to any device capable of "pinging" them.
If we don't prevent it, these devices will soon be used to track and control everyone from cradle to grave.
As a privacy activist, I thought I'd been watching RFID implementation closely. But I didn't know the half of what Katherine and Liz reveal in Spychips.
The authors have dug deep into the files of the U.S. patent office. They've attended RFID industry conferences as "moles." They've traveled to Europe and throughout the U.S., uncovering RFID chips -- and disingenuous spin about RFID chips -- in unexpected places.
From this voluminous research and years of activism (Katherine is the founder and head of the privacy group CASPIAN and Liz is its communications director) they've produced a slender, info-packed, and yet highly readable -- and reasonably priced -- hardbound book.
I really must stress, and stress again, that word "readable." Spychips is about a truly frightening topic and a highly technical one, as well. But the book is lucid, concise, witty and at times reads like a novel. Call it a technological thriller.
It is also impeccably factual. You can rely on the info you'll get here. And I hope millions WILL rely on it. If we're to have any hope of preserving privacy and freedom in the future, we must ALL know what Katherine and Liz tell us so eloquently.
If we don't prevent it, these devices will soon be used to track and control everyone from cradle to grave.
As a privacy activist, I thought I'd been watching RFID implementation closely. But I didn't know the half of what Katherine and Liz reveal in Spychips.
The authors have dug deep into the files of the U.S. patent office. They've attended RFID industry conferences as "moles." They've traveled to Europe and throughout the U.S., uncovering RFID chips -- and disingenuous spin about RFID chips -- in unexpected places.
From this voluminous research and years of activism (Katherine is the founder and head of the privacy group CASPIAN and Liz is its communications director) they've produced a slender, info-packed, and yet highly readable -- and reasonably priced -- hardbound book.
I really must stress, and stress again, that word "readable." Spychips is about a truly frightening topic and a highly technical one, as well. But the book is lucid, concise, witty and at times reads like a novel. Call it a technological thriller.
It is also impeccably factual. You can rely on the info you'll get here. And I hope millions WILL rely on it. If we're to have any hope of preserving privacy and freedom in the future, we must ALL know what Katherine and Liz tell us so eloquently.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This topic is arguably one of the top 2 or 3 most important in the area of Privacy, and certainly a top topic in the business ethics area, although Ms. Albrecht would probably say the term "Business Ethics" is an immediate contradiction in terms.
As a marketing educator, I have placed this book on my syllabus for an E-Commerce course I teach, with the following reservation - it is entirely too celebratory of the author. IMO, this book was written with a self-promotional Erin Brockovich overlay I found off target. Its impact would be greater if it stuck to the facts, which are compelling and striking.
As an ex-Corporate marketer, I found Ms. Albrecht's methodology of tracking company's actual patents (IBM, Motorola, etc.), versus their reactive 'positioning statements', a very useful technique for cutting through the Corporate double-speak, especially when it related to corporate denials of consumer level tracking, when their own patent applications are directly FOR such applications.
As for the content, while some reviewers here poo-poo the 30 to 50 foot range of reading individual product 'spy chips' on clothing using today's technology, I think the range is perfectly adequate for trucks driving by most neighborhoods taking readings off such chips - just as many gas, water and electric meters are read today, as utilities change to RFID devices from manual reading. And the history of technology is that the the ranges and accuracy will improve.
What I take from this book is as follows. RFID, while very useful at the "Supply Chain"/pallet level in increasing distribution efficiency and effectiveness, is very troubling when applied to consumer level packaging. It is worse still when applied at the identity card (passport, member card, and drivers license)level, and we must tread carefully there.
In America, citizens and consumers should have a choice in being on or off 'the grid', it is fundamentally no one's business how products are used, or where you are located. This is why as marketers we use proxies such as research surveys to gather voluntary information on use patterns, and why we are trained in statistical inference. Even the non-voluntary current scanner data does not track you outside the purchase area.
This is an important issue that will not be resolved quickly.
As a marketing educator, I have placed this book on my syllabus for an E-Commerce course I teach, with the following reservation - it is entirely too celebratory of the author. IMO, this book was written with a self-promotional Erin Brockovich overlay I found off target. Its impact would be greater if it stuck to the facts, which are compelling and striking.
As an ex-Corporate marketer, I found Ms. Albrecht's methodology of tracking company's actual patents (IBM, Motorola, etc.), versus their reactive 'positioning statements', a very useful technique for cutting through the Corporate double-speak, especially when it related to corporate denials of consumer level tracking, when their own patent applications are directly FOR such applications.
As for the content, while some reviewers here poo-poo the 30 to 50 foot range of reading individual product 'spy chips' on clothing using today's technology, I think the range is perfectly adequate for trucks driving by most neighborhoods taking readings off such chips - just as many gas, water and electric meters are read today, as utilities change to RFID devices from manual reading. And the history of technology is that the the ranges and accuracy will improve.
What I take from this book is as follows. RFID, while very useful at the "Supply Chain"/pallet level in increasing distribution efficiency and effectiveness, is very troubling when applied to consumer level packaging. It is worse still when applied at the identity card (passport, member card, and drivers license)level, and we must tread carefully there.
In America, citizens and consumers should have a choice in being on or off 'the grid', it is fundamentally no one's business how products are used, or where you are located. This is why as marketers we use proxies such as research surveys to gather voluntary information on use patterns, and why we are trained in statistical inference. Even the non-voluntary current scanner data does not track you outside the purchase area.
This is an important issue that will not be resolved quickly.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
This is for real.
from time to time I go the library to check up some books
many time I read the title of this book but never call my atention
but one day I said for get it' I well read... Read more
many time I read the title of this book but never call my atention
but one day I said for get it' I well read... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Efrain Diaz
Will blow your mind
Some of us knew this was coming, but not this soon and so many brand name companies are involved. If you don't want "them" to know who you are and what you are doing, be very... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Janisse M. Ager
Must be read ...
"Spychips: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track Your Every Move with RFID" is absolutely required reading for everyone. Read more
Published 16 months ago by R. L. Albanys
Must read for every American
A very revealing book about what the government and corporations are doing now to spy on us and to keep track of every purchase we make. Read more
Published 18 months ago by trillium
Very Informative Book
The shipping was SUPER fast. The book arrived in perfect condition and is a GREAT book that everyone should read and be aware of all the information inside it. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Sunshine
Sober yet alarming
I expected this book to be a shrill, conspiracy obsessed bag of mixed messages. I was pleasantly surprised, as it is well written, as easy to read as a novel, very well... Read more
Published 22 months ago by S. Brogden
An Absolute Must Read for Everyone in the Civilized World
There are times I'll notify my friends when there's a great book that I highly recommend but much less common is a book I believe everyone really does need to read - that happens... Read more
Published on April 2, 2010 by Rick Holt
Authors who little but saw an opportunity for a book
I have implemented 5 RFID projects - primarily in the stock control sphere.
This book is just full of nonsense. How much you payed for your sneakers? Read more
This book is just full of nonsense. How much you payed for your sneakers? Read more
Published on April 1, 2010 by Exaction Pty Ltd Sloane
Big Brother's Plaything
This isn't coming- it's here. Cheap, radio signal emitting chips can be embedded into almost any product you can think of. Read more
Published on March 8, 2010 by Brian
Big Brother is Here!
Whether you're a skeptic, or consider conspiracy people kooks, this book will change your life. It's scary descriptions of what is ALREADY going on with imbedded chips will make... Read more
Published on March 8, 2010 by C. P. Hendrix
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
Imagine a world of no more privacy. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
fabric antenna, patient misidentification, smart shelf, toll transponders, blocker tag, source tagging, toll tags, reader devices, read range, radio frequency identification, future store, tracking unit, marketing students, loyalty card, unique serial number, tag information Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, New York, Postal Service, Applied Digital Solutions, Internet of Things, Kevin Ashton, State Department, Calvin Klein, Katherine Albrecht, Texas Instruments, Big Brother, Mobil Speedpass, Store of the Future, Alien Technology, Bank of America, Broken Arrow, Cap'n Crunch, Checkpoint Systems, Dick Cantwell, Great Seal Bug, Philips Electronics, Empire North, Guantanamo Bay, Social Security Administration, The Med New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
Imagine a world of no more privacy. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
fabric antenna, patient misidentification, smart shelf, toll transponders, blocker tag, source tagging, toll tags, reader devices, read range, radio frequency identification, future store, tracking unit, marketing students, loyalty card, unique serial number, tag information Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, New York, Postal Service, Applied Digital Solutions, Internet of Things, Kevin Ashton, State Department, Calvin Klein, Katherine Albrecht, Texas Instruments, Big Brother, Mobil Speedpass, Store of the Future, Alien Technology, Bank of America, Broken Arrow, Cap'n Crunch, Checkpoint Systems, Dick Cantwell, Great Seal Bug, Philips Electronics, Empire North, Guantanamo Bay, Social Security Administration, The Med New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 14
books:
See all 14 books this book cites
- The Last Jews in Berlin by Leonard Gross on page 210, and Back Matter
- Nazi Culture: Intellectual, Cultural, and Social Life in the Third Reich (George L. Mosse Series in Modern European Cultural and Intellectual History) by George L. Mosse on page 219, and Back Matter
- on page 195, and Back Matter
- Geographic Information (How to Find It, How to Use It) by Jenny Marie Johnson in Back Matter
- Theremin: ETHER MUSIC AND ESPIONAGE (Music in American Life) by Albert Glinsky on page 17
See all 14 books this book cites
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