In 2004, a large department store chain in Germany was forced to withdraw customer loyalty cards when the press discovered that the company had secreted radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags in the plastic. Even when enclosed in a wallet or purse, these cards can transmit information over distances of about a meter, and the stores planned to use them to track which departments the customer visited. At issue was which data security issue

the data security issue at issue was consumer privacy.

Explanation:

Consumer privacy refers to how sensitive personal information provided by customers is handled and protected throughout routine transactions.

Consumer privacy is ingrained in all of contact with consumers. Consumer privacy is crucial since it can have an impact on a company's brand, disrupt the customer experience, and potentially harm its reputation.

A company's failure to preserve consumer privacy can prohibit it from generating more income and gaining new customers.

Therefore, the data security issue at issue was consumer privacy.