CharlieCard distribution
Dec. 4th, 2006 10:55 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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davis_squareHas anyone gotten a CharlieCard yet? I hear they were supposed to be handing them out to commuters today, but I didn't see anyone at Davis.
MBTA jargon note: CharlieCards are the RFID cards that you wave over the dark grey rectangles on the new turnstiles. CharlieTickets are the paper cards that jam the turnstiles.CharliePasses are the thin plastic cards (cleverly mislabeled "CharlieTicket") that they're deprecating.
Update: I think I made up the name "CharliePass", although I swear I saw it somewhere in the MBTA literature.
Update #2: Davis gets them starting tomorrow. Other stations get them at other times.
MBTA jargon note: CharlieCards are the RFID cards that you wave over the dark grey rectangles on the new turnstiles. CharlieTickets are the paper cards that jam the turnstiles.
Update: I think I made up the name "CharliePass", although I swear I saw it somewhere in the MBTA literature.
Update #2: Davis gets them starting tomorrow. Other stations get them at other times.
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no subject
Date: 2006-12-04 08:57 pm (UTC)ALthough my main concern - the fact that they track our movements, and can link it to us via credit card or job (I am checking with HR, as they said the cards were individually numbered) - that is the primary invasion of privacy and intimidation at the hands of the govt.
Like a friend said - if this were a person, it'd be stalking. But it is the MBTA. So it's....still stalking.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-04 09:04 pm (UTC)I'm skeptical about how RFID may be abused, but knowing the technologies (there's plenty to learn on wikipedia and other sources) helps me understand the limits of what can be done.
(Also, keep in mind the incompetency of the MBTA as one limiting factor. They have enough trouble making the system work at all, let alone stalk people).
If you're paranoid about the technology being used to track people based on account numbers, don't use the system or pay with cash.
If you're paranoid about RFID magically making it so that people can track you, just by having it - read up on the technology to understand the limits. Also keep in mind that you can easily shield RFIDs from prying eyes (or in my case, other, conflicting RFIDs) with as little as bit of screen patches (for screen windows) that you can get at a hardware store.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-04 09:37 pm (UTC)It isn't being "paranoid" - it is defending my right to travel in my own country without govt. oversight. Nothing magical about it.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-04 09:52 pm (UTC)All I suggest is that you fight the technology by understanding it, not by nuking anything that you may suspect to contain an RFID. By understanding it, you move from the realm of "paranoid" to "RFID expert" and can better protect yourself from potential microwave-proof RFIDs. Knowledge is power, etc. ;-)
from the MBTA page
Date: 2006-12-04 09:09 pm (UTC)The MBTA considers the privacy of patron’s personal information to be an important concern as the Authority introduces new electronic fare media. The MBTA has recently published a new "Website and Electronic Fare Media Privacy Policy". Please read our Privacy Policy for more information.
Customers will have the option to have an unregistered or, eventually, a registered CharlieCard. Unregistered smart cards are anonymous and will be available to customers wishing to utilize the benefits of smart cards (including reusability, ease of use, ability to put multiple products on a card) without providing any personal information to the MBTA.
If desired, customers will be able to register their CharlieCards by establishing accounts with the MBTA. Registered smart cards will allow patrons to utilize additional features of the new fare collection system including automatic purchases of passes and stored value, as well as loss protection, which allows the MBTA to issue a replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged card with the product or value on the card at the time the MBTA was notified of the loss."
Bottom line, pay cash to fill up your Card, and do not use a Charliecard that may be registered.
Re: from the MBTA page
Date: 2006-12-04 09:23 pm (UTC)Now to fight the RFID chips in passports....
Re: from the MBTA page
Date: 2006-12-05 02:56 pm (UTC)Re: from the MBTA page
Date: 2006-12-05 05:41 pm (UTC)I asked the guy handing out the things this morning, and he thought they were great questions but did not know the answer. He also agreed that it was not fair that US citizens should actally be penalized for wishing to use cash.