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The U.S. Department of Transportationâs Federal Highway Administration has put out a call to all the big players in RFID to develop a 5.2GHz dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) version that can be implanted… I mean installed in all cars. The idea is that the tags will work with planned ubiquitous sensors that would track a car’s position and be able to relay warnings like impending collisions, road hazards, etc.
It sounds benevolent enough — an early warning system that will save lives — but the article also mentions that one intended use is “warning a driver that his vehicle is going too fast to safely negotiate an upcoming curve.” That means that you’ll have a full-time backseat driver who is not only nagging you about your speed, but is also reporting your current speed and position to “the man.” It brings to mind the ticket printers all over the place in Demolition Man. You won’t have to waste time being pulled over by the police, you can just receive the ticket printed out of your dashboard.
There are oh so many things wrong with this proposal, I don’t know where to begin.
Via Ars Technica
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