Posted on 02/12/2006 4:28:09 PM PST by wagglebee
An Ohio company has embedded silicon chips in two of its employees - the first known case in which US workers have been tagged electronically as a way of identifying them.
CityWatcher.com, a private video surveillance company, said it was testing the technology as a way of controlling access to a room where it holds security video footage for government agencies and the police.
Embedding slivers of silicon in workers is likely to add to the controversy over RFID technology, widely seen as one of the next big growth industries.
RFID chips inexpensive radio transmitters that give off a unique identifying signal have been implanted in pets or attached to goods so they can be tracked in transit.
There are very serious privacy and civil liberty issues of having people permanently numbered, said Liz McIntyre, who campaigns against the use of identification technology.
But Sean Darks, chief executive of CityWatcher, said the glass-encased chips were like identity cards. They are planted in the upper right arm of the recipient, and read by a device similar to a cardreader.
Theres nothing pulsing or sending out a signal, said Mr Darks, who has had a chip in his own arm. Its not a GPS chip. My wife cant tell where I am.
The technologys defenders say it is acceptable as long as it is not compulsory. But critics say any implanted device could be used to track the wearer without their knowledge.
VeriChip the US company that made the devices and claims to have the only chips that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration said the implants were designed primarily for medical purposes.
So far around 70 people in the US have had the implants, the company said.
How convenient for monopolies.
>>>Start with "sex offenders,"
Are we really using them as the poster child of groups in need of protection from big brother?
We will be left with Faith.
Try Googling up I.G. Farben to see what I'm talking about.
Are we talking about people or cattle here? Or do you even see a difference?
Convicts and convicted child molesters can be easily identified, kids who are kidnapped can be picked up on
The old boogeyman argument used by tyrants for centuries: "give up your rights and give us power and we'll protect you".
illegals who are not tagged can be easily rounded up
In your dreams. For that to occur, there has to be a desire to enforce the immigration laws. There currently is none.
If you don't fall into one of the scumbag categories you don't have to worry any more than you have to worry about the methods in place today.
How about putting cameras in every room in house? After all if you have nothing to hide....
As for "scumbag", what do you mean by that? All citizens are "scumbags", if the definition is someone who breaks the law. Forget to signal with your blinker? Forget about that $3 interest payment when doing your taxes? Peacably carry a gun in the wrong place in the wrong state? Welcome to "scumbag" territory.
Drinking 2 1/2 beer after work helps my erudition. After that, I start to babble. < BG >
...agreed (more sincerely this time). My point was that those who want the power will slip the the chips into universal use by linguistic activism, other propaganda, and by pitting the majority against various smaller groups. I've been around long enough to see US citizens give up a lot of civil liberties for their public "safety" and to get an edge over their neighbors (whose debts to "society" are now perpetual).
I liked "This Perfect Day" by Levin much better than both, although it is difficult to find.
All of them were very prescient, like you said.
Ok I'll say it. I don't care about getting illegals as much as I care about my personal privacy. My personal privacy is much more important to me than pretty much any potential benefit law enforcement might get out of it.
>>" But guns can't carry out terrorist acts, or molest children, or sell crack, or bribe public officials"
>>>>How would an electronic chip affect any of these ?
Prior offenses are listed on chip - if a child is molested in a neighborhood, just scan the area - don't have to investigate who are local registered offenders, check their homes (they're not there if they're guilty, they're at the molester-buddy's home), then investigate who are the friends, etc... Just scan area, and you get a list of all registered offenders within five square miles (or whatever you want). Or a guy applies for a job a a nursery, you just scan em for prior offenses. Or for drug convictions, etc. We can keep em out of where they shouldn't be (druggies out of pharmacies for example, or anywhere where they might steal money).
Just some examples...
I agree completely.
The tyrants want to monitor and control every aspect of our lives.
What are you, a communist? (/sarcasm)
Seriously, to recite what is becoming a mantra: Could you imagine what a Hillary! would do if this were in place?
I agree completely.
The tyrants want to monitor and control every aspect of our lives."
It IS slavery.
I should have said "everyone". My face is red.
>>>The technology has been developed by private companies, and they retain sole ownership of the chips and technology, sharing the information with "authorized" (by the owners) entities. This includes the government IF the govvie PAYS for the info.
>>>Sun SELLS computers to the gov's, but also LEASES them. Sun retains ownership, and gets the 'puters back, often with sensitive data still on the hard drives.
Under this theory, no privately developed technology (that is, ALL technology) could EVER be used for sensitive purposes. In fact, the DoD should burn all the computers, and go back to paper (or can Diamond International ask for their note-pads back too).
Use someone elses chips. Lot's of people make semicondcutors you know.
Still no?
Are you a technophope?
No, but your Big Brother does!
Maybe I should try beer instead of coffee. Might help me communicate better.
Throughout history, most people have chosen to live on their knees rather than die on their feet.
The American colonists were, as George Washington observed, the exception to this. They created a wonderful country, which is now being given away without a fight.
Someone should figure out how to harness the energy from Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson spinning in their graves. Hell, maybe they'll start spinning so fast it will rip the earth of its axis. Better that fate than to live as a bitch of the state.
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