1.14.5. European Economic and Social Committee exploratory opinion on 'Radio frequency identification (RFID)'.

References:
Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data: OJ L 281, 23.11.1995; Bull. 10-1995, point 1.3.51
Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (directive on privacy and electronic communications): OJ L 201, 31.7.2002; Bull. 7/8-2002, point 1.3.90, as amended by Directive 2006/24/EC: OJ L 105, 13.4.2006; Bull. 3-2006, point 1.19.10

Adopted on 11 July. The Committee maintained that, where RFID applications are permitted, their use must be absolutely transparent for all persons concerned. The applications intended to improve the handling of goods were deemed acceptable on the whole. However, the applications concerning persons' labelling were not generally seen as acceptable, if it is not in environments characterised by intense movements. Whereas the applications associating persons with goods were deemed acceptable by the Committee for the purpose of marketing, the applications identifying persons thanks to the goods that they bought were seen as generally unacceptable. Moreover, the Committee stressed that certain applications do not have their place in a liberal society and should never be permitted. In this line, the Committee recalled that the imperative need to preserve privacy and anonymity has to be central to the recommendation sent by the Commission to the Member States.