In a recent story, we explained the potential for misuse of RFID (radio frequency identification) microchips to invade your privacy. You'll find the story here on the kmov.com website. These days issues of privacy are hotly debated. In the War on Terrorism, the federal government's been criticized for its domestic surveillance program. Americans are uncomfortable with the idea that someone's watching them and snooping in on their private lives. First of all we don't like people that are nosey (I know this one from professional experience) and there's a fear that a misunderstanding could lead to suspicion or even send black helicopters to get us. Remember the Will Smith and Gene Hackman movie, "Enemy of the State?" On the other hand you've got the people who say, "I've got nothing to hide." And we've heard that statement a lot in recent years as we debate where to draw the line between privacy and catching potential terrorists who may be lying in wait in our country.

Take for example this real scenario: A co-worker recently received an e-mail from her credit card company alerting her that a children's toy she had purchased at a local store, had been recalled because of high levels of lead. On one hand she was glad to get the notification, but on the other hand she wondered how much information about her purchases was being kept in a company database and were they selling it to other companies? Now consider having a microchips in each piece of clothing you purchase. It'll alert the store when it leaves, so workers will know when to restock shelves. But machines that can read the chips could be anywhere and be used to help identify, profile and track you. We're still a few days away from losing as much of our privacy as portrayed in the Tom Cruise movie, "Minority Report," but the technology is here today. Maybe the equipment needed for such a society is too expensive and it'll never happen. Or maybe it will be put put to use someday. And maybe we'll just have to trust the people gathering the information that they'll protect our privacy and not use their "spychip" technology in harmful ways. Or maybe a few simple rules on use of RFID technology, will prevent us from every knowing just how much of our privacy could be lost through the use of those tiny electronic chips, which are currently used in some factories to help make an edible form of chips (that go great with a sandwich).