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.
“There’s nothing pulsing or sending out a signal,” said Mr Darks, who has had a chip in his own arm. “It’s not a GPS chip. My wife can’t tell where I am.”
The technology’s 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.
This is destined for great evil.
We will be left with Faith.
And truth be told, that ought to be enough.
Rush Limbaugh had an interesting commentary on the fates of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Those men signing that document knew the possible fate that would befall them.
"I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees"
It was said of the Soviet Union that they had so many regulations, edicts, and laws that everyone was guilty of something. But so long as you did your job, paid your taxes, and remainded a "party member in good standing", they left you alone.
We're almost at that point in the United States. We have so many malum prohibitum edicts that all citizens are guilty of something. Implant this chip, and it will be easier to keep track of all those "crimes" to use for a later date.
Those that think they have nothing to fear because they "obey the law" are either fools or hermits. They should start reading law books to find out that they may not be the upstanding citizen they think they are.
Once a corporation gets involved, there is a contigent of posters here who will support ANY thing they do. Some people just can't make it through life without finding some jackboots to lick.
In their mind, forced corporate implants will be a sign a Freedom, and anyone opposing it will be a "communist".
How would you update the chip -- isn't it read only ?
>>>The same could work for investor-thieves like Martha.
I know you say this sarcastically, but these are the people who ought to get the first implants. Marth would have thought twice about using insider information if she knew that all of her actions (and ideally, her intent as well, as this was an issue at trial) would be recorded for the future use of investigators at SEC. Market transparency is a classic example of where this technology would show great potential.
>>>How would you update the chip -- isn't it read only ?
If it's ROM, how will it record criminal acts, what's the point of having it? Identification, yes, but for law enforcement, it has to have a record capacity.
You are stubbornly missing the point.
Verichip is the sole owner and manufacturer (so far) of the chips and the information the chip represents (in VERICHIP's database).
The chips are NOT for sale. If you want the chip info, Verichip will sell it to you, no matter who you are.
Yes, I'm a real technophobe: ADSL, 5 'puters linked and in use in the house, hell even my VACUUM CLEANER has a processor in it.
I guess I'll go and listen to some '78's on the Victrola now....
"If....". Is it ?
Can you imagine some of the excuses modern-day Americans would give if in a similar situation:
"I won't sign since I don't want to break the law"
"I won't sign since I don't want to bring attention to myself"
"I won't sign since I might get sued"
"I won't sign since East India Tea company is a corporation and can therefore do anything they like"
"I won't sign since it might hurt my 401k plan"
Totally pathetic. Like I said earlier, I hope ol' Patrick Henry starts spinning fast enough to hurl this planet into the outer solar system. That would a better fate than getting chipped.
Check this thread out, guys.
>>>We're almost at that point in the United States. We have so many malum prohibitum edicts that all citizens are guilty of something. Implant this chip, and it will be easier to keep track of all those "crimes" to use for a later date.
This need not be a "negative" BUT RATHER A BENEFIT. We indeed have many laws that all citizens violate - but under Social Fact Thesis theory, these are not truly laws - under this theory the validity of a law must reflect certain social realities - and be backed by a credible threat of punishment. Forcing a populations to tally violations of non-credible "laws" would drive much needed simplification and reform of a hopelessly complicate and arcance legal system. Right now, however, it is enough to know that the cops will not ticket you for 70 in a 65, and forces us to live a kind of hypocrisy that, in my opinion, citizen implants would remedy.
>>>"If it's ROM, how will it record criminal acts, what's the point of having it? Identification, yes, but for law enforcement, it has to have a record capacity. "
>>>"If....". Is it ?
My point, I think it ought not to be.
>>>You are stubbornly missing the point.
>>>>Verichip is the sole owner and manufacturer (so far) of the chips and the information the chip represents (in VERICHIP's database.
And you MY point. Don't use Verichip. Use another product (they are not the only game in town).
So your idea is to give unprecented and near total power to the state, in the hopes that they will let your yoke sit a little lighter by repealing a few edicts?
As far as "tallying violations", this will be used to arrest the non-docile citizens who do something horrendous like write a letter critisizing their elected officials.
forces us to live a kind of hypocrisy that, in my opinion, citizen implants would remedy.
Okay, this has got to be a parody. Do you really believe what you are writing?
If so, answer the following question:
What is your plan for me (and others) that say "NO" to your implant?
AMEN, bruddah!
Do you own an "assault rifle" in California? If so, you know the government changed the rules. Failure to register that rifle made you a felon. Some people who complied with the law still found the state of California pounding on the door to confiscate a legally purchased rifle. You are simply too trusting.
Identity theft is very common today. It wouldn't take much to hack the database record tied to "your" chip and completely change the government's official record of who you are.
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