Indian Cars Get Radio ID Tags

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Is there an ICLU (as opposed to the ACLU)? If so, they may want to have a word with the Indian government re: their plans to require automotive manufacturers to equip all new cars with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. The Economic Times reports the Ministry of Heavy Industries' rationale: "violations by motorists could be tracked and all violations identified." But it's RFID-enabled tolls that's really got the Powers That Be all excited. Clearly, India is not unaware of the potential revenue possibilities environmental benefits of an RFID-based congestion charges. The article cites Connaught Place in Delhi, MG Road in Bangalore and Colaba and Andheri in Mumbai as the most toll-deserving of traffic hot spots. In fact, "the Delhi government is planning to substantially increase the parking fee and entrance charge in such core areas to convert them into traffic-free zones." Traffic-free? Wow, that's harsh.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Ryan Knuckles Ryan Knuckles on Sep 26, 2007

    We used RFID tags to track pallets on a conveyor at my old job. Of course..we didn't fine them when they got off track..

  • Megan Benoit Megan Benoit on Sep 26, 2007

    Meh. RFIDs are easy to read, write, and erase. Would be nothing for me to copy my neighbor's RFID tag, and overwrite mine with it. Then go joyriding! Woo hoo! RFID is incredibly not secure, not to mention unreliable, so I imagine this will be dead shortly.

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