While there are certainly some novel uses for RFID technology out there (like studying the secret life of bees), RFID systems are increasingly being used for the more practical purposes of improving productivity and enhancing security.
The increasing appetite among companies to use this technology to track their employees is a worrisome trend for the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. While we certainly recognize the business benefits of RFID systems, we believe they can also be used as surveillance tools, which raises important privacy concerns for employees.
Our office has just released a discussion paper outlining the steps organizations could consider, and questions that could be asked, before proceeding with RFID applications in the workplace. The paper includes some broad questions on the use of RFID technology, to which we invite stakeholders to submit their responses. We hope this paper will spark discussion on a growing trend with some serious implications.