Die Veröffentlichung des Privaten. Mit intelligenten Etiketten vom grundsätzlichen Schutz der Privatsphäre zum Selbstschutz-Prinzip [Revealing the Private: By Means of Intelligent Labels From the Principal Protection of Privacy to the Principle of Self-protection]

Small electronic storage-devices, also known as Smart Labels or RFID-Tags, that emit the information they hold via radio signals, are intended to be mounted on or integrated in products to serve as means of product identification. These RFID-Tags shall store a product’s Electronic Product Code, a worldwide unique identifier of a single product. Based on this identifier information on the product is to be stored and kept available in an Internet-based, globally available information system. This information system shall provide the possibility to monitor the whole life-cycle of any product from production to disposal. Special benefits of this product surveillance system are expected in wholesale and retail businesses and supply chain management. This paper discusses the potential effects of product surveillance via RFID systems on consumers’ privacy.