Congressman: Intel chip a privacy hazard
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Congressman: Intel chip a privacy hazard
By Tim Clark
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
January 22, 1999, 5:35 p.m. PT
A senior U.S. Congressman has written Intel CEO Craig Barrett, expressing concerns that
Intel's plan to put serial numbers on its next-generation Pentium chips raises serious privacy
issues. Intel says the letter is based on a misunderstanding of the company's intent and
technology.
The office of U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on
the House Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee, today released the
text of the letter.
"In my opinion, Intel's new product improves technology for online commerce in a way that
compromises personal privacy," Markey wrote Barrett. Intel announced this week that it will embed
serial numbers on each of its new Pentium III chips in an effort to improve Internet security.
Privacy advocates have said the announcement could lead to the erosion of computer users'
privacy, and now Congressman Markey is taking up their cause.
"It's clear that Congressman Markey doesn't have the complete story," said Intel spokesman Chuck
Mulloy. "We will be in touch on Monday to set up a briefing. He doesn't seem to understand that the
end user, the consumer has the ultimate authority to turn the [display of the serial number] on and
off."
"We are in agreement in principle with a lot of the comments in the letter," Mulloy added.
Markey's office released a copy of the letter with a press release late today.
"I hope that Intel will seek to design its products to improve the security of electronic commerce
transactions without putting consumer privacy at risk," Markey's letter concluded. "I encourage you
to examine the privacy implications of the Pentium III and ascertain whether further improvements
can be made to better balance both commercial and privacy objectives."
The serial numbers to be embedded in Intel's Pentium III processor could be misused to identify and
collect data on Web surfers, some privacy advocates warn. But Intel argues that the technology will
actually make the Net a safer place.
news.com
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I doubt that Representative could do much, especially when one can disable the extra features. The only thing that could hurt Intel is the fact that you have to disable it every time you turn your computer on. I thought this was interesting -
Intel's trial with the FTC coming up
Intel gives the Department of Energy free access to the Pentium for use to develop a radiation-proof chip
A gov't Representative says an Intel chip is a security hazard
Almost getting to look like a soap opera. ;) |
