Congress concerned over MagicBand security issues..

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

I'm glad that someone is attempting to question Disney over this. While I realise you can opt out of the band, it also seems that you will lose perks. I'm not comfortable with Disney knowing my ever single move of ever single moment. There is absolutely no way we will wear this band and we are hoping it doesn't become a "must do" or you lose perks.

You can always vote with your wallet. But I'm sure you realize that you are on camera most every public place that you go now and if you use a credit card, debit card, or customer rewards card you're being tracked. Some states have or are trying to implement license plates with RFID. And of course if you have a cell phone you can be tracked. Most newer cars have the so called "black box" that collects data. Also most likey you're internet activity is being tracked. I'm always amazed at how freely we have given up so much of our privacy in this country.

 

[dadddio]

Note that the only significant change is that the MagicBand contains a transmitter, not just an RFID chip. Take out the transmitter and it isn't much different than a KTTW card (albeit easier to skip and duplicate).

The transmitter works over an unspecified distance (Disney has not stated the power level I believe, but it operates on the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi/cordless phone band, which gives it a practical maximum range of 300 feet outdoors.

Based n their filings, people have reported a range of nine to fifteen feet.

Disney has also not specified why it has it, but the primary reason is believed to trigger the "customized" experiences by knowing when you are in a certain area. This is like the rumored (or did the confirm?) exit room at IASW replacing the "goodbye" signs, etc.

[This will also be how characters know your name.

Disney COULD use it to know where you are in the park to a certain degree. The question is what value that knowledge provides them, or is it really a privacy issue. Disney COULD use other technologies - some you wouldn't be able to opt out of other than to not enter the park.

This isn't a privacy issue. None of us have a right to privacy while win a business. A business has every right to know where we are or what they sell us.

They supposedly changed to require a PIN on all purchases, but there have been wide reports about a complete inconsistency all around of being asked to supply a pin and not being asked to use the pin for a purchase even over $50.

I don't see how this could be true. The system would either require a PIN or it wouldn't. In that way, it's just like when you swipe your debit card at the grocery store. It isn't something that the CM will have to remember to ask for.

 

[doconeill]

The most likely location to sell the upcharge bands is Epcot because the intended market is Annual Passholders.

AP holders makes sense, since they would have them longer. Do AP holders frequent Epcot more than the other parks?

Incidentally, although you can opt out to a certain degree, if you stay at a resort you will still need an RFID device of some sort since that's how you get in your room and in to the park. So if you opt out of a band, you'll still probably get a card that is RFID-enabled. But will it lack the transmitter? If it does, certain experiences will be unavailable to you.

 

[dadddio]

Like I said, Disney can do it with other technologies you can't opt out of...

What is of concern for Congress is if Disney was able to say use the technology to know that your child spend a lot of time in the shop looking at Princess stuff, and then used that info to market Princess stuff directly to them.

How are they going to do that marketing? Certainly not by simply exposing a child to princess stuff. They kind of already do that.

 

[dadddio]

And charges are not made to your credit card, but to your room account. You have that opportunity to dispute the charge before it's sent to you credit card account.

That's true under the current system, but can't be true with the new system, since many people won't have a room account.

 

[doconeill]

Based n their filings, people have reported a range of nine to fifteen feet.

Seems reasonable, given the battery and the need to last for at least 1 year (for AP holders).

[This will also be how characters know your name.

A handler could scan the RFID to get that info as well - don't really need longer range for that.

I don't see how this could be true. The system would either require a PIN or it wouldn't. In that way, it's just like when you swipe your debit card at the grocery store. It isn't something that the CM will have to remember to ask for.

You would think so...but I've read several reports in the last day where:

1) People were not asked to assign a PIN at all;

2) People who had a PIN were not asked to use it on a purchase on a consistent basis.

I've often been amazed at the number of things that seem to be left to the CM to deal with instead of just handling it through the computer. Ticket upgrades for instance should be completely automated, but aren't.

 

[mousermerf]

That's true under the current system, but can't be true with the new system, since many people won't have a room account.

If you dont have a room account you wont have charging privileges.

 

[doconeill]

How are they going to do that marketing? Certainly not by simply exposing a child to princess stuff. They kind of already do that.

But Disney is already talking of synergy outside the parks, like with Disney Infinity. They could in theory offer special Princess characters through that system, etc.

Take part in SOTMK or the new Pirate adventure or Agent P? Plenty of opportunity to dynamically change the experience there with a marketing overtone.

Not saying they would, but those are just examples off the top of my head.

That's true under the current system, but can't be true with the new system, since many people won't have a room account.

It isn't clear whether non-resort guests would be able to charge. I think they might given that you can associate a credit card to your MDE account, and I'm not sure why you'd need to...

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Deja vu all over again...

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[ses1230]

You can always vote with your wallet. But I'm sure you realize that you are on camera most every public place that you go now and if you use a credit card, debit card, or customer rewards card you're being tracked. Some states have or are trying to implement license plates with RFID. And of course if you have a cell phone you can be tracked. Most newer cars have the so called "black box" that collects data. Also most likey you're internet activity is being tracked. I'm always amazed at how freely we have given up so much of our privacy in this country.

I agree. Have you ever searched for yourself on spokeo, mylife, etc.? The amount of what I consider private data out there is staggering. Spokeo lists how many bedrooms and bathrooms are in your house, and your street name. Why? Because it is public record.

That concerns me more than Disney knowing where I am on their property, what I bought or what rides me and my kids are on.

 

[dadddio]

If you dont have a room account you wont have charging privileges.

I can't find anything that suggests that you are correct.

 

[dadddio]

It isn't clear whether non-resort guests would be able to charge. I think they might given that you can associate a credit card to your MDE account, and I'm not sure why you'd need to...

No one 'needs to'. People choose to have charging privileges on such a device for convenience purposes.

 

[dadddio]

I finally had a second to google. Off site guests will use an RFID ticket and be able to purchase a magic band. The features that these RFID ticket holders will have access to was listed as park entry, FP+, and swipe-to-pay.

 

[ChrisFL]

they have stated that you can opt out of the bands entirely, you can choose not to pay with it, and you can choose not to have CMs given your name. What else would you need to opt out of?
I doubt that they will fall off very easily. The ones that have been shown to us seem pretty secure.
You could likely also use the kiosk. Also, CMs can take care of it. Given that they will be selling upgrade bans, it makes sense that CMs in about any gift shop could delink the lost one.
Why would they want to? No personal info exists on the bands, after all.
Why would it need to be turned off? Again, there's no personal info on the band.
No personal information exists on the band. The only thing on the band is a number identifying the band.

you keep saying that there's no personal information, but clearly there IS, because that number on the band is how Disney's resort-wide system is going to read the data. If there's no personal data, why does Disney suddenly need the full names of your entire family before you can book a stay (as mentioned in the DISBoards podcast recently)

The number is only arbitrary for non-Disney related systems, but WDW is a HUGE resort with LOTS of employees and they can barely keep their websites and online reservation systems working half the time, yet we're supposed to trust them with a TON of extra data from us.

Theoretically, they could see that, hey little molly is in her resort room but her parents have left....and are in Downtown Disney for Dinner....

So we're suddenly giving them much more data and expect that it isn't going to cause any privacy concerns is just foolish. Sure, there's privacy concerns in a lot of other places these days, but I don't want to be concerned about the invisible way lots of things are being tracked about me during my vacation.

 

[ChrisFL]

I agree. Have you ever searched for yourself on spokeo, mylife, etc.? The amount of what I consider private data out there is staggering. Spokeo lists how many bedrooms and bathrooms are in your house, and your street name. Why? Because it is public record.

That concerns me more than Disney knowing where I am on their property, what I bought or what rides me and my kids are on.

You know what else does most of that? PHONE BOOKS!!! OMG!!!

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

you keep saying that there's no personal information, but clearly there IS, because that number on the band is how Disney's resort-wide system is going to read the data. If there's no personal data, why does Disney suddenly need the full names of your entire family before you can book a stay (as mentioned in the DISBoards podcast recently)

The number is only arbitrary for non-Disney related systems, but WDW is a HUGE resort with LOTS of employees and they can barely keep their websites and online reservation systems working half the time, yet we're supposed to trust them with a TON of extra data from us.

Theoretically, they could see that, hey little molly is in her resort room but her parents have left....and are in Downtown Disney for Dinner....

So we're suddenly giving them much more data and expect that it isn't going to cause any privacy concerns is just foolish. Sure, there's privacy concerns in a lot of other places these days, but I don't want to be concerned about the invisible way lots of things are being tracked about me during my vacation.

I have been booking trips for years and they have always asked for the full names and ages of those traveling in my party so that is nothing new. On my last call to WDW for booking purposes they actually already had our names address and correct ages of my children so they were just asking questions to confirm the info.

 

[Tistal]

I'm glad to see this is the most pressing issue that our country's elected officials need to worry about (/sarcasm). I can think of a long, long list of things that are way more important.

No wonder Congress can't get anything accomplished lately.

 

[sachilles]

I'm sensing a market for Tinfoil mouse ear hats. Of course it would be foolish to embroider your child's name on it. You could put anonymouse on it though.

It's a piece of media linked to a folio. This info is already acquired. It isn't surgically implanted or anything. Take the darn thing off if you don't like it.
I sure hope congress doesn't find out about EZpass, otherwise I'll start having to use cash at toll booths again.

 

[doconeill]

No one 'needs to'. People choose to have charging privileges on such a device for convenience purposes.

You misinterpreted what I meant...I should have finished the sentence. I did not mean "need to" as being required. I meant need to as in "I don't see why you'd need to provide CC information on the MDE web site unless it was to be able to have charge privileges..."

But I just re-read part of the MDE T&C, and it mentions being able to use it for online purchases, etc. Nothing about use in-park.

 

[finedice]

Why is it if someone has an opposing opinion they are sheep? This phrase really ticks me off (as you intend it to). Perhaps it is better to be a placid sheep than a paranoid person.

I am viewed by cameras for hours each day as I work in a large city. My bank can track my movements by the debit transactions (which I can see online within minutes of using the card). So I am not incognito now. Even my tivo analzyes my viewing and recording of shows to give me tivo suggestions.

It seems people are more woried about what might happen with the technology (someone else reading the chip or Disney selling the information)rather than what Disney uses it for.

This is exactly the point. What they are doing with the information may or may not be morally acceptable. The point about sheep is definitely not intended to make people angry. It is intended to point out exactly what you mention in your second paragraph.

Noncomplacency does not equate to paranoia, nor should it restrict me from WDW, driving, banking, or grocery shopping. Being protective of my privacy is something I feel is important. Should my rights and privileges be less because I feel this way? If I do not question, how can I understand?