Results: RFID and Identity Management in everyday life - ITAS

event are stored in a digital dossier, which is accessible in a ‘static post’ or through mobile PDA’s
[1, 14].
The wards carry an active RFID tag in a key-chain, which gives the control room real time
information about their whereabouts. The key-chain has a ‘panic button’ in case of emergency.
When there is a problem on the floor, the control room has in instant overview of the wards’
whereabouts and appropriate orders can be given [12].
In Dutch newspaper the prison is being called ‘Big Brother bajes’ (bajes is Dutch slang for
prison) [15].
A visitor of a discussion board commented on an article about the concept: “I also had a major
problem with the fact that failure to pay traffic fines or petty theft could land you in a prison like
this. That means I, and many others in the class, could have our right to privacy legally stripped
from us in a very dehumanizing way if we lived in the Netherlands. I think this kind of
surveillance, for petty crimes, is completely backwards of the Dutch, who are otherwise liberal”
[18].
The prison wards did not express concerns nor had questions about the technology at first. After
a while however, some issues rose, for instance about what happens if somebody visit the
toilets. It seems as though realisation of the possible consequences of the technology grew in
time and that examples can help in creating this understanding. In addressing these issues, the
concept designer and the prison wards reached an agreement not to use any information that
could possibly be collected with the RFID environment. According to the designer, this has never
been the intention and the agreement stands to take away or avoid any concerns [19].
ID issue The use of constant surveillance brings some controversy and ‘Big Brother-scenario’s’ can easily
be related to this case. Applying it to punish or reward a person goes even further. However, it
remains debatable how much privacy rights imprisoned people (should) have.
Besides the prisoners being constantly monitored, also the wards are under permanent watch.
This brings about a different employer-employee relationship in which the employees’ privacy
could be impinged. It could be seen as a trade-off between being monitored and being more
secured at work. It appear as though realisation of the possible consequences of the technology
came in time. Addressing concerns and allowing for a dialogue between employer and
employees can facilitate in the acceptance of a new technology.
Sources 1. http://www.wavetrend.net/content.asp?IDS=126 (visited 25 July 2006)
2. http://www.vdgp.nl (visited 27 June 2006)
3. http://www.minjus.nl/ (visited 26 July 2006)
4. http://www.digit.nl (visited 26 July 2006)
5. http://www.geodan.nl (visited 27 June 2006)
6. http://www.dji.nl (visited 26 July 2006)
7. http://www.transquest.nl (visited 22 August 2006)
8. http://www.wavetrend.net (visited 22 August 2006)
9. ‘Een nieuwe manier van strafuitvoering’ (http://www.dji.nl/main.asp?pid=251, visited 26
July 2006)
10. Stordiau-van Egmond, A.M.E., ‘Uitnodiging perspresentatie detentieconcept Lelystad’
http://www.perssupport.anp.nl/Home/Persberichten/Actueel?itemId=74217, visited 26
July 2006)
11. ‘Prison of the future: Detention Concept Lelystad’ (http://www.geodan.nl/en/markets/publicorder-and-safety/detention-concept-lelystad/,
visited 25 July 2006)
12. ‘Modernste gevangenis van Europa voorzien van nieuwste technologie: DIGIT Touch
Systems / Creative Action voorzien modernste gevangenis van Europa in Lelystad van
nieuwste technologie’
(http://www.perssupport.nl/Home/Persberichten/Actueel?itemId=74659&show=true,
visited 26 July 2006)
13. Maurits, R. ‘Nederlandse gevangenen bewaakt via RFID-chip: ook uitgebreide
multimediavoorzieningen in cellen.’ 24 January 2006.
(http://www.zdnet.be/news.cfm?id=53006&mxp=109, visited 6 July 2006)
14. ‘Gevangen in ketens: modernste gevangenis: opvallend resultaat van gedurfde visie.’
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