It’s way later than 1984.

Here’s a creative new toy for law enforcement — RFID “dust.” RFID devices are those tiny electronic devices embedded in the things we buy, in our currency, in our passports, in more and more of everything we’ve got. The devices electronically store information that can be read with an RFID reader. Dr. David J. Atkinson, at Our Weird and Wonderful Future, wonders about the creative and creepy ways these new RFID particles, measuring 0.05 x 0.05 mm, will be used:

At 5 microns thick, the RFID chips are easily embedded in sheets of paper. But since existing tags are already small enough to embed in paper, it leads one to wonder what new applications might be enabled.

Used in paper currency, for example, the chips could serve as a guarantee of authenticity. Gift certificates are another benign application. What about identification? Tracking?

With 128k ROM (not much memory, but enough) imagine how this stuff might be used. What if police dusted a crowd at a demonstration — participants could be rounded up later. Sprinkle a little bit on hubby, then see if it shows up where it should not. Dust on hands, transferred during handshakes …where would it go? Who would pick up the dust? The potential of RFID to shred our last bits of privacy is huge. And where needs be, it will happen.