A California bill seeking to set privacy standards for RFID technology use in the state of California was rejected by members of the state assembly.

The bill would have restricted the way businesses and libraries use RFID tags: they would have been allowed to collect only information about the items customers were actually buying, renting or borrowing. It would have prohibited businesses or libraries from using RFID to collect data on tagged items that the customer may have picked up but put back prior to a transaction, or to collect information from tags on clothing people were wearing and on items they were carrying in a wallet or purse.

Opponents convinced the majority of the committee members that it would be a mistake to place restrictions on RFID technology at a time when the technology is at its infancy.

Several other US states are considering RFID privacy-related legislation. Maryland has set up a task force to study the use of RFID tags by retailers and manufacturers. Massachusetts and Virginia are also considering RFID-related bills. This week, the Virginia Joint Commission on Technology and Science will meet to study the technologies that have the potential to infringe on the civil rights of individuals, including RFID.

From RFID Journal, via The RFID Gazette.