Tell me about you.
On a recent trip to Target, I decided to add some compressed air to my cart. Working in electronics, I find compressed air to be almost a necessity. The servers, computers, switches, and other equipment I use routinely need a good “spritz” of compressed air to keep the dust from accumulating.
But I digress.
When I went to check out, my cashier advised that I needed to scan my ID to purchase the compressed air. Not just show her my ID, but rather have my driver’s license scanned into their register. This of course allows Target to scan, read, and store my personally identifiable information. Although just someone’s full name fulfills the criteria of personally identifiable information, a Driver’s License barcode and/or magnetic stripe contains much more. By scanning the driver’s license, Target retains my full name, date of birth, address, gender, race, driver’s license number, license information (restrictions, endorsements), organ donation, and issue date.
First, let’s look at the obvious…
Why does Target need my Personally Identifiable Information?
When I was told that I was required to have my license scanned, I asked very simply, “why?” The cashier told me that Target required my age when purchasing the product. I told the cashier, that I’m almost 40 years old and asked how old I needed to be to purchase the can of compressed air.
While she called her manager (and told her that someone refused to identify themselves), she told me that the age restriction was 18. Let’s face it… I’ve posted pictures here. I’m not mistaken for a teenager. I haven’t been mistaken for a teenager in 20 years. Even though the cashier believed I was over the age of 18, she said she was not allowed to sell my the item without my driver’s license being scanned.
The manager arrived and very abruptly and confidently told me that I was required by law to scan my license. I told her that I knew of no such law and asked her if this was a Florida law or a Federal law? She called her Security team and told me, “the security guy said you can google it.”
I didn’t allow my ID to be scanned and I didn’t get to purchase the item. Incidentally, not once have I had my ID scanned for Alcohol (purchased at Target), R rated movies, or other items that are restricted by age.
Here’s the bottom line
There’s no reason that you should show or give your personally identifiable information to Target. Especially when they do not provide you with any information on how this information will be stored, protected, used, and shared. They did not provide any summary of Fair Information Practices or describe to any degree of cause as to why this information was needed.
The United States of America, at one point, greatly valued personal freedom. Sadly, this doesn’t seem to be the case today. I believe that your personally identifiable information needs to be protected, whenever possible. I don’t let people take my ID and walk away with it, and I won’t let Target scan it in their cash registers.
Instead, I’ll choose to no longer shop at Target.
blogged: No, You Cannot Scan My ID. http://bit.ly/dwXMFY
Fred Posner
29 Mar 10 at 6:06 am
RT @fredposner: blogged: No, You Cannot Scan My ID. http://bit.ly/dwXMFY
OvrWrkdTech
29 Mar 10 at 6:08 am
That would probably change were I shop also! RT @ovrwrkdtech RT @fredposner: blogged: No, You Cannot Scan My ID. http://bit.ly/dwXMFY
Trent MacDougall
29 Mar 10 at 6:25 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Fred Posner, OvrWrkdTech. OvrWrkdTech said: RT @fredposner: blogged: No, You Cannot Scan My ID. http://bit.ly/dwXMFY [...]
Tweets that mention No, Target. You cannot scan my Personal Information. | Fred Posner dot com -- Topsy.com
29 Mar 10 at 9:14 am
Fred….once again an excellent blog. It amazes me that Target would have such a policy or attempt to collect our information in such a manner. My first question would be, Do other retail establishments require ID to buy compressed air? I recently purchased a helium tank from Party City to fill ballons for a birthday party…will ID be required in the future? How about the Air Freshner I buy, as a consideration to my roommates, at my local supermarket??? Will ID be reuired for that? I ASSUME Target’s reasoning for ID Verification is to prevent kids from using the compressed air to get “high”. WHIPPITS I believe it is called….but when is enough, enough??? Are we now, or in the future, have our ID swiped for any purchase involving compressed anything or is this solely a Target policy? Hmm…..thanks for the post.
Rick Pallisso
29 Mar 10 at 9:46 am
I know! They said it was “the law” but couldn’t tell me anything. I looked it up quickly and didn’t find any requirements for it. Seems to me like a policy.
Fred Posner
29 Mar 10 at 9:57 am
Fred,
I’ve not heard of ID being required for compressed air. However, as an allergy sufferer, I’m all too familiar with requiring ID to purchase decongestants based upon pseudoephedrine. For example, Claritin D.
At first I was put off by this, most especially because the drug stores were just looking at my ID and having me sign a book. My sense was that the regulatory & law enforcement agencies were not getting that info in a timely way.
More recently they scan my drivers license into the register. At least this way there a possibility that the info might be of some value to someone in law enforcement. I truly doubt it, but the possibility exists.
Michael Graves
29 Mar 10 at 10:48 am
The problem is with what your Driver’s License has and the fact that there’s no information on what is being done to protect this information. Just look at the recent hacks with some big name stores and the access to your credit card info. Now, imagine someone has your Name, Driver’s Licence Number, Home Address, Date of Birth, Race, Sex, DL Issue Date, DL Expiration Date, etc… which is all there when you scan your license.
Funny enough, I called their corporate office and talked with someone who transferred me to the “main supervisor.” The supervisor told me this is their policy, not a law. When we were talking I asked her for her name… she would only say Joan, as she would not be giving her last name. I asked for her date of birth, as my policy is to only talk to adults. She said that I could assume she was an adult. I said I couldn’t, and needed the following information: Name, Date of Birth, Address, Race, and Sex. She said she got my point… but somehow I don’t think she did.
Fred Posner
29 Mar 10 at 11:00 am
fred, this sounds like a problem with an easy solution … i’ll see if i can dig out CITI’s magstripe writer.
peter honeyman
29 Mar 10 at 1:47 pm
AWESOME idea.
Fred Posner
29 Mar 10 at 1:55 pm
[...] No Target, You Cannot Scan my ID [...]
You have the right to VoIP Tech Chat | VoIP Tech Chat
1 Apr 10 at 12:23 am
Excellent response to Target asking for excessive personal information – ask company rep for theirs! http://bit.ly/aaPYfV
Jeff Darcy
17 Apr 10 at 7:39 pm
You can of course present other forms of government ID. I give them my military ID, there is no bar code to scan. Or carry your passport, still no bar code to scan there either.
Of course the best thing to do is point out this hypocrisy, thanks Fred for letting us know about Target stupidity. and then for all of us to not shop at Target.
I have a choice when I shop, and there is a Meijer right next door to the Target in my neighborhood. I will be shopping at Meijer.
BTW, when Target asks for personally identifiable information, in many states, they must make available to you their privacy policy on how they will handle that information.
Cheers!
Steve Pierce
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Steve Pierce
19 Apr 10 at 9:47 am
RT @fredposner: No, You Cannot Scan My ID http://bit.ly/dwXMFY
kunta bear
28 Apr 10 at 6:08 pm
RT @fredposner: No, You Cannot Scan My ID http://bit.ly/dwXMFY
WW Ben Franklin Do?
28 Apr 10 at 6:11 pm
Well, this just happened to me today at Target and I’m outraged. I will write to Target, my congressman and senators because we cannot allow this to continue. Need to check my age? looking at my ID should suffice!
MCP
18 Jun 10 at 2:40 pm
Same story when I tried to purchase compressed air at Target in Pasadena California today. The kid/checker had no idea why he was supposed to ask. I told him that I didn’t really need the air. The man in front of me did get his license scanned – but he was buying Sudafed. A very curious and bizarre policy. There must be some reason for it.
David
29 Jun 10 at 2:04 am
I just returned from Target and at 59 was also asked for my ID to scan to purchase “air”. I told them no and removed the item from my order, then went down the street to WalMart and bought the same item with no problem. With policies like these Target will always lag behind other retailers no matter how much the remodel.
Debbie
5 Jul 10 at 9:07 am
Dear Fred,
It is indeed unfortunate that this corporation scans your ID. However, you are completely missing the point of their scans.
These compressed air canisters contain chemicals that can be used for many dangerous purposes;
There are many products related to compressed air canisters contain explosive fumes that have been used to create bombs. Purchased from several different stores, this ID check ensures that a potential threat to YOUR safety does not walk around town purchasing bomb material from different stores.
More directly, these canisters contain dangerous chemicals that stupid teenagers inhale. They have been known to cause permanent brain damage, and and toxic.
I apologize that some nameless person might have of 1 in 1,000,000 chance of seeing your name and drivers license number flash up on some screen at the DEA. It is a small price to pay in order to ensure the safety of ourselves, and help prevent careless drug abuse.
-Justin
Justin
20 Jul 10 at 2:22 pm
Hi Justin,
Thanks for the comment, but I disagree. I am absolutely not missing the point here… And counter it with:
If this is the case, then they need to tell me that my personal information will be released to the government. And I must be informed which agencies are being told, what information is being stored, and how long this information will be held. Quite honestly, I find this scenario of one person buying many cans from different stores implausible. First, the government’s chances of actually preventing this are nil. Second, you are stopping one scenario– the lone bomber. What about the organization that sends 20 people to buy cans of compressed air? Either this is a substance that should not be sold ever, should be licensed, or should be free to buy without Big Brother tracking my life.
I am almost 40 years old and no longer a teenager. If the person needed my ID she could have looked and checked my birthdate, and moved on. No reason to scan it. If she thought I was enabling a “stupid teenager,” she should have called the police.
We fundamentally disagree here. (1) My information in mine. (2) It’s an enormous price. Ben Franklin said it best:
To me, that’s the complete oposite of your “small price to pay.”
Fred Posner
20 Jul 10 at 2:41 pm