Wireless tracking technology interests senators

Senators are becoming increasingly interested in a technology that can track everything from prescription drugs to aircraft parts, and also are likely to focus on the increasing controversy surrounding it.

The Senate will launch the Radio Frequency Identification Device caucus at an event Thursday. Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, will co-chair the group.

Congress has pending legislation to require RFID devices on bottles of the 30 most counterfeited drugs. Wal-Mart and the Defense Department now require all pallets and cases to include the radio tracking devices.

But the tiny chips and antennae are likely to see even wider use in the future. Hospitals will use it to track equipment and beds. The Homeland Security Department will track cargo coming through ports and airports.

Scientists call the technology a step above bar codes because it can identify an individual product.

They say it can be used for doggy doors to only let your pet in -- not the neighborhood gang. Another company hopes to develop the "clueless closet" to help match ties with shirts. Their plan would even remind you that a matching shirt is at the dry cleaner.

IBM researcher Paul Moskowitz said RFID tags can be read as far away as 30 feet. But the firm plans to develop a tag in which most of the antenna is torn off when a shirt, for example, is purchased.

"You can only read the tag from a few inches away," Moskowitz said.

Privacy advocates worry about who will be able to see the information included in the tags and how far the tags can be tracked.

The Center for Democracy and Technology has published guidelines on how to mitigate some of the privacy concerns with the new tracking devices.

CDT said consumers should be able to consent to the tags or remove them. It said it also wants to see rules on the types and amount of data that can be collected, and what the data could be used to do.

Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, said those who oppose the technology do not really understand it.

"The fear is this will lead to large databases with personal information on what you bought," Atkinson said. "We already have that." He said credit card purchases can be tied to items bought. The only difference is a database would now know not just that he bought Chanel No. 5 perfume, but exactly which bottle he now owns.

Supporters say they hope the new Senate caucus will boost understanding of RFID.

Information Technology Information Council President Rhett Dawson said it is sometimes difficult to break through the clutter to explain to lawmakers where the technology is going.

"There is a lot of fear which we think is smoothed out if people are willing to listen," Dawson said.

Tim Heffernan, director of government relations at Symbol Technologies, said RFID also is an important competitiveness issue.

"Other countries are looking to develop their own standards and push those as trade weapons," he said.