Legislators Target RFID

California's state Senate gave its stamp of approval to a bill that would place limits on the use of radio-frequency identification technology in stores and libraries. The bill faces debate before the state Assembly's Business and Professions Committee. SB 1834, introduced by state Sen. Debra Bowen, seeks to prevent stores and libraries from using RFID to collect any information beyond what a customer is buying, renting, or borrowing. If passed, the bill would ban use of the technology to track people while they're shopping--such as detecting what products they pick up but don't buy--or after they've left an establishment. Similar legislation is being drafted by Massachusetts state Sen. Jarret Barrios.