By George Anderson
The German retailer, Metro Group, is replacing 10,000 loyalty cards it gave to customers with new ones after receiving complaints about radio frequency identification tags embedded in them.
Privacy advocates objected over the use of RFID in the cards, saying they would allow stores to track customers in an Orwellian fashion when they shop.
Metro spokesman Albrecht von Truchsess said, "There are concerns about having customer cards with RFID chips. We have to take them seriously and discuss them. With such an emotional debate going on, we said it's just not worth it."
Moderator's Comment: Will RFID ever get beyond the objections of consumer privacy advocates to be used in the front of the store as well as the backroom? - George Anderson - Moderator