Jim Hnatiuk

An amazing revolution is taking place in the world of technology; and as often happens, it is progressing faster than the policy-building process.

Scientific American reported in August, 2008 that dozens of countries–including the US–now issue e-passports with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags embedded in their covers.

The report went on to say: “Since their debut, the new passports have been controversial on both privacy and security grounds. Security experts in 2007 proved the encryption codes can be cracked.

“Yet these demonstrated security problems have not slowed the adoption of RFID. Malaysia has issued some 25 million contactless national identity cards. The Chinese government is spending $6 billion to roll out RFID-based national IDs to nearly one billion citizens and residents.”

Identity theft is evidence that security is inadequate with current technology; and this is only the tip of the iceberg in the scientific and technical revolution. Take, for example:

• At NASA, some 55 scientists are working on concepts in nanotechnology for future needs on sensors and advanced miniaturization. (For comparison, ten nanometres is 1,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.) This should raise some red flags with respect to the surveillance potential inherent in this type of technology. Also;
• A research project funded by the European Union has some of their top minds looking at Ambient Intelligence (AmI)–which they say could happen within ten years. AmI refers to electronic environments that are sensitive and responsive to the presence of people. In an AmI world, devices work in concert to support people in carrying out their everyday life activities using information and intelligence that are hidden. In the near future, manufactured products from the clothes on one’s back, to the money one spends, will be embedded with intelligence, networks of tiny sensors and actuators. Their research is identifying not only the advantages of this technology, but also the new threats and vulnerabilities these new technologies will bring to society. The book, Safeguards in a World of Ambient Intelligence by David Wright, offers a comprehensive review of their findings. To summarize just two of their recommendations;

1. Discussions must urgently begin of the societal, ethical, security, privacy, identity, and trust ramifications of these technological advances in a multidisciplinary way, and with the objective of identifying a range of safeguards to ensure that we all benefit from them, and that the inevitable risks of negative consequences are minimized as far as reasonably possible.

2. The consumer has the right be informed of any technological measures embedded in any product he purchases or is issued.

The CHP agrees with the increasing need for safeguards with regard to the risks posed by these technologies to security and privacy. The CHP would establish a Canadian commission to work in concert with the international community as was recommended by EU researchers, in assessing risks and their management.

The impact of these technologies is serious; they can and will influence national security, control of space, battlefield command and control systems, industrial obligations… and much more.

The CHP recognizes the need for our laws to keep pace with technology. For these advances to benefit Canadians in human terms, we must work together now to ensure that adequate safeguards exist.

Our ‘Better Solutions’ include preparing NOW for the future, rather than being swept along aimlessly by rapidly-changing technology.

Category: CHP Communiqués
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