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Did you hear the one about the Benetton boycott?
 ... than wear clothes with RFID chips. Boycott Benetton's not-so-subtle jab at PETA? |
While spell-checking "Benetton" for one of my web clients, I had the good fortune of coming across Boycott Benetton, a site run by a group of activists we wrote about a couple of months ago: CASPIAN, or Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering.
Apparently, two years ago, Benetton was using radio-frequency id (RFID) chips in their clothing. The chips are ostensibly used to streamline distribution and keep track of inventory (Wal-Mart and other companies use 'em too). But CASPIAN raised concerns that the chips' application would be expanded - that they would be used to track Benetton consumers long after they make their purchases and leave the store.
Alas, after CASPIAN launched its boycott in 2003, Benetton quickly retreated. Score one for the home team.
Posted by carrie on 12/03/2005 | Permalink
Comments
that one's quite old, and you know, i wonder why no one else has raised issues w/ RFID since then? it seems to be more prevalent now than ever since they're trying streamlining RFID in all of the industries. and regarding the fur, PETA eventually stop the campaign b/c Benetton signed some kind of agreement supporting more "ethical" wool product (promoted by the PETA).
Did you hear about the latest Benetton deal w/ the indigeneous people, the Mapuche, in Patagonia, Southern Argentina?
Posted by: miserychick | Dec 12, 2005 5:42:44 AM
