This is an editorial, primarily addressing the threats associated with technologies such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. Pottie discusses the need for professional responsibility by those involved in developing invasive and pervasive technologies. Using the example of RFID tags, Pottie depicts the nature of necessary controls by presenting the guidelines offered by Beth Givens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse to a California Senate committee in 2003. The guidelines presented by Givens echo the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines for management of personal information, including disclosure, access, security, accountability, and data quality, among others.

Pottie makes two excellent points. The first point is the recognition of the potential dangers or issues related to the unregulated development of such pervasive networked technologies, particularly in the context of a democracy. Lack of anonymity, loss of autonomy, and social conformity are just a few of the potential consequences. The second point is the need to address these issues in the context of the current evolving technology environment, by those assigned to, or involved in, the design of the technology. Pottie’s article is a rallying call for caution and forethought in the development of pervasive and invasive networked technologies.