Behind the Headlines Video
12/11/12 Privacy Invasion
Radio frequency identification, or "RFID," are microchips. They're used to track inventory such as books, electronics, tools and pharmaceuticals.
They've been injected in livestock. And family pets. My dog has an RFID chip. These are acceptable uses.
Using RFID to track humans is not an acceptable use. Although no doubt it's tempting to every parent of a teenager.
In October, the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio launched a pilot program at two schools.
RFID chips are embedded in each student's school ID pass.
In spite of what school officials say about safety and security, the real reason they're using RFID is to increase attendance reporting numbers to get more state funding.
It's all about the money. Teaching? Not so much.
Maybe that makes the bean counters happy. But there are more important issues.
It's degrading. It treats children as a commodity. And it violates privacy rights.
We've fought wars against countries that treat people as inventory.
Sophomore Andrea Hernandez was the only student out of 4200 who refused to wear the device. And she was expelled. But she's back in school on a judge's order.
Andrea's brave actions are reminiscent of another student from 1989.
[Segment on tape of Chinese student stopping a column of Chinese Army tanks in Tianamen Square in 1989.]
It only takes one to make a difference.
Radio frequency identification, or "RFID," are microchips. They're used to track inventory such as books, electronics, tools and pharmaceuticals.
They've been injected in livestock. And family pets. My dog has an RFID chip. These are acceptable uses.
Using RFID to track humans is not an acceptable use. Although no doubt it's tempting to every parent of a teenager.
In October, the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio launched a pilot program at two schools.
RFID chips are embedded in each student's school ID pass.
In spite of what school officials say about safety and security, the real reason they're using RFID is to increase attendance reporting numbers to get more state funding.
It's all about the money. Teaching? Not so much.
Maybe that makes the bean counters happy. But there are more important issues.
It's degrading. It treats children as a commodity. And it violates privacy rights.
We've fought wars against countries that treat people as inventory.
Sophomore Andrea Hernandez was the only student out of 4200 who refused to wear the device. And she was expelled. But she's back in school on a judge's order.
Andrea's brave actions are reminiscent of another student from 1989.
[Segment on tape of Chinese student stopping a column of Chinese Army tanks in Tianamen Square in 1989.]
It only takes one to make a difference.
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