The Sorting Door Project

The Sorting Door

The Sorting Door Project is an exploration of issues around Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), including of surveillance and privacy; unique identification; and classification.

RFID technologies will introduce new stresses in the tension between personal privacy, and information collection and analysis.

The Sorting Door is intended as a testbed for technologies and policies to address issues raised by RFID.

The elements of the Sorting Door include:

  • research on interrogation of RFIDs "in the wild," using the Door (or, actually, any number of instrumented collection points) as a metaphor;
  • research on collection context, e.g., associating multiple RFIDs into "constellations," attached to specific individuals, or otherwise found in recurring groups;
  • research on constructing associations, over time;
  • research on using object type information to make "educated guesses" as to identity, whether unique, or as part of various classes.


The Sorting Door Architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Why call it the "Sorting Door?"

What are RFIDs, and how prevalent are they?

How can I tell if items I have have RFIDs in them?

If there are RFIDs on objects I own, should I worry?

What can I do about RFID tags I don't want?


Research and Analysis

"Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Surveillance and Privacy: The Sorting Door Project", to be published in the proceedings of Working Together, Research & Development Partnerships in Homeland Security, April 27-28, 2005.

Guest Editorial: "Privacy Invasion as ROI," for the Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility, August 24, 2005.

Other papers from Stapleton-Gray & Associates, Inc.

Surpriv Blog, on RFID, surveillance and privacy issues.


Press Coverage

The Register (UK): Watching us through the Sorting Door

RFID Journal: Researching RFID's Surveillance Potential

RFID News: Ask the Experts: Ross Stapleton-Gray, the Sorting Door Project


Project Management

E-mail: sortingdoor@stapleton-gray.com