These tags should be removed at the store.  That eliminates the problems with throwing them in your trash.  Plus as with most low-power RF chips in use today, you have to be pretty close to them to pick up a signal (within 3-5 feet) so that probably won't be a real issue.  I understand that people fear RFID technology but is it really a problem or a lot of hype and paranoia?

will this raise the price of t-shirts and blue jeans, even hats?

walmart is certain to make mistakes with this, arresting and tracking people like in Enenmy of the State. except real life walmart dod, combined with local law enforcement with a tracking device. maybe even with a satellite interface.

True anything *is* possible and it takes some responsibility on both sides.  And yes you are right that we do get tracked by those customer loyalty cards, but remember also that their use is entirely voluntary and people who use them get discounts on food and gas so the companies justify their use to track purchases for marketing purposes.  As we move to an increasingly more advanced wireless society we will continue to have these tradeoffs between privacy and convenience and efficiency.  The main people pushing for these RFID tags on merchandise are retailers who want an easier, faster, and more efficient way to track inventory which can be a very time consuming and expensive part of business upkeep. 

2007-10-04

UPDATE 2007-11-11:

Card de-Blinked. Original post below:

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My wife and I recently signed up for our first joint credit card. This will allow us to do things like buying plane tickets to see each other and dinners out without having to constantly update our Karma spreadsheet. The Karma spreadsheet (thanks Google) will remain in use for non-credit purchases.

That’s not what this post is about.

What it is about is the plastic cards that come with the account. When I arrived here in New Orleans today, I opened up the envelope and dutifully read the documentation that came with the credit cards. I noticed a mention of the cards having “Blink” contact-less checkout ability. I felt a lurch in my stomach. Sure enough, a quick inspection of the card and some googling revealed that this “Blink” thing is nothing more than a nice name for RFID.

RFID is insecure as used in this application. Your credit card number can be read from afar (up to 69 feet) while sitting in your wallet in your pocket or purse, without your knowledge. As detailed in the linked article, it is then trivial to create a duplicate card.

Of course, our government is also keen on RFID in passports. In the case of Chase, it turns out you can simply request new cards or get creative with a drill. I was going to do the latter, but ended up doing the former, because I want it to register with Chase that I don’t want RFID in my credit cards. It was no problem getting new cards ordered — for all my quibbles with Chase, their customer service on the phone is generally both helpful and English-speaking.

If you want to de-RFID your passport, I believe the recommended method is by hammer blow, but here are instructions for making an RFID-fryer from a disposable camera. Apparently tampering with passports is punishable by up to 25 years in prison, so tamper at your own risk.  http://virtuallyshocking.com/2007/10/04/blink-technology-in-my-credit-card-no-thanks/

I just had a weird experience with the Chase representative trying to get the card they just reissued to me with Blink changed back to a regular card.  He got real quiet and offended sounding.  He acted like he was checking to see if he could replace it, then was lecturing me on how they are great and necsessary and not harmful.  He seemed really angry that I cared, in a sort of passive-agressive way.

He ended up telling me quite certainly that all Chase cards are now issued with Blink, and there will be no replacements.  He kept questioning me as to what I felt was wrong with it, and then explaining away my concerns with dumb answers.  Then he would check to see if I agreed, which I did not.  He finally gave up and sounded really annoyed with me.

He tried to tell me that they need Blink to speed up the lines in fast food restaurants.  I said there are never that many people that it would make a difference if you use a swipe or a scan.  He said "Yes there are," like he was more emphatic than ever.  He said all cards would soon have this technology, and many department stores have it.

I don't carry this card on me, and I doubt I'll ever use it.  I don't want to carry a radio tracking device on me that is connected to my social security number and financial information plus name and adress and phone number.  He was telling me, well you have 100% liability protection on this card, it is just to speed up the lines to save the retailers money, people can track you by looking in your mailbox, your are tracked anyway, blah, blah blah. 

I don't know why some phone teller got so excited over this.  It is really weird.

This is a de-Blinked credit card.  The RFID sensor was taken out from under the picture of the radio waves.  The first phone rep I asked about Blink when I first got the card, told me the sensor was in the side on the outer edge.  I wonder where it is.  I wonder if you could tell with an electric meter or something.