San Antonio Schools Begin Tracking And Monitoring 4,000 Students With RFID Microchips

In just a few days, two schools in San Antonio, Texas, are planning to begin tracking and monitoring over 4,000 students using RFID microchipped identification cards. Unless we convince Jay High School and Jones Middle School to rethink their plans, students will be required to participate in the technology trial beginning August 27.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a controversial technology that uses tiny microchips to track items from a distance. These RFID microchips have earned the nickname “spychips” because each contains a unique identification number, like a Social Security number for things, that can be read silently and invisibly by radio waves. Over 40 of the world’s leading privacy and civil liberties organizations have called for a moratorium on chipping items like ID cards because the technology can be used to track people without their knowledge or consent.

Join us in spreading the word that RFID tracking violates expectations of reasonable privacy and threatens civil liberties in our schools. Read our new Position Paper on the Use of RFID in Schools.

We are looking for parents and other stakeholders, especially those in the Northside Independent School district of San Antonio, who oppose student tracking. We are planning a public outreach event to underscore the serious privacy, safety, and civil liberties dangers associated with RFID tracking technology.

You can learn more about the planned event by emailing us at sanantonio@spychips.com.

We also have set up a Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/saspychips.

Following are links to a few of the many news stories about proposed student tracking in San Antonio:

Texas school district to track kids through RFID tags – CNET- news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57441651-71/texas-school-district-to-track-kids-through-rfid-tags/

Students will be tracked via chips in IDs- San Antonio Express – mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/Students-will-be-tracked-via-chips-in-IDs-3584339.php

San Antonio schools to use scanner technology in student IDs – Los Angeles Times – articles.latimes.com/2012/may/28/nation/la-na-nn-san-antonio-scanner-chips-20120527

Northside ISD to track students using RFID cards on campus – Texas Public Radio – tpr.org/news/2012/05/news12052404.html

Northside ISD Smart Student ID program drawing critics –KSAT TV Video link – ksat.com/news/Northside-ISD-Smart-Student-ID-program-drawing-critics/-/478452/16130356/-/2qtoxe/-/index.html

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