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At the Frontline Expo 2004 conference last week, Checkpoint revealed
that one of their major clothing clients is secretly working on
plans to incorporate item-level RFID tags into all of their merchandise
in 2005. Could it be Abercrombie & Fitch? Old Navy? Calvin Klein?
Carter's? Champion? Apparently the brand doesn't want its RFID involvement
publicized; Checkpoint's lips were sealed.
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Checkpoint's exhibit promoted "EPC/RFID
for retail" for item-level
RFID tagging, rather than supply chain or warehouse applications.
This puts the company squarely at odds with the recommendations
of privacy experts
who have called for a moratorium on item-level tagging. No wonder
they're keeping mum on their clients' plans.
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These two tags Checkpoint RFID tags, masked
with black tape, may offer a clue to the "mystery company." They
were the only tags in the Checkpoint display which showed an effort
to obscure the identity of the company involved. The attempt appears
halfhearted, however, since the black tape covering the tags fails
to conceal the "Abercrombie & Fitch" collegiate logo at
the lower right.
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This label, reading "Checkpoint Systems RFID", was sewn into a Champion
athletic wear jacket on display at the Checkpoint exhibit. Champion
is owned by Sarah Lee Corporation, one of the earliest companies
to invest in the development of EPC/RFID technology.
[For
a closeup of the tag, click here]
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Interior view of a Checkpoint RFID clothing
label. This is the same type of label that was sewn into the Champion
jacket pictured above. [Click
here to see a larger view]
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An assortment of clothing tags displayed
at the Checkpoint exhibit.
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The backs of tags displayed at the Checkpoint
exhibit.
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 This Calvin
Klein fabric label was among the items featured at the Checkpoint
RFID booth. Viewed from the front, it looks looks like an ordinary
clothing label that would be sewn into the collar of a shirt or
sweater.
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Viewed from the back, however, it is apparent
that the Calvin Klein clothing label contains a hidden RFID device.
The device is only visible when viewed from the back. (Note the
metallic antennae extending from either side.)
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When the Calvin Klein clothing label is opened, the RFID device
it contains can be clearly seen. Note the computer chip in the center
of the tag and the metallic antenna extending from it. This chip
contains a unique ID number that can be read remotely.
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Checkpoint's signage at the trade show
promotes the use of RFID tagging on store shelves, yet another violation
of the recommendations
of privacy experts concerned about previous and planned abuse
of such systems.
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