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.
"Not me, not in a million years will I adopt the mark of the beast"
But,but, I thought SSN's were the "mark of the beast" - http://www.greaterthings.com/Word-Number/666/42USC_sec666.htm
But then then convinced me it was UPC codes-
http://www.greaterthings.com/Essays/666mark.htm#Precursors
Actually, this site is pretty funny for those who want a look at what is exciting the tin-foil hat crowd.
If you buy into incrementalism, a good argument could be made that first the SSN, then the UPC, were forerunners, not necessarily by one group's conscious design, of building a system within which a sophisticated, full-blown, enhanced RFID system can operate.
I don't know for certainty what the MOB is or is not or if it is even literal. All I know is where I hope I draw the line personally.
No one should be forced to take it against their will. There should be certain basic human rights for even criminals. Much as I loathe certain *categories* of sex offendors and other criminals, I have a problem with chipping *anyone* against their will, same as I do with illegals, drunk drivers, terrorists, or any other class of lawbreakers.
Too many people seem to think it's ok for criminals. I'm not comfortable with that kind of thinking, an electronic ankle bracelet is bad enough, but I've gone along with it for other people. If they are truly a menace to society, keep them locked up. If not, let them serve their punishment and go on their way unhampered by the humiliation of electronic monitoring.
With all the surveillance out there now, it's pretty hard for anyone to escape the eyes of the law, big brother, the government. They will find you eventually; very few escape as it is now in our country.
With terrorists and illegals whom I don't place in the same category of terrorists, you have to *catch* them first in order to chip them.
It's a real conundrum. The more medical science advances, the more you get dependent on that system. Just about everybody, young and old, have health issues, some worse then others. If you are unfortunate enough where you need constant medical monitoring, you have already forfeited a certain amount of freedom. That's the price you pay to extend your years on this earth; normally it's the right and sensible thing to do for yourself and others.
If things get really bad, in some unforeseen scenario, people who need medical attention to monitor or remove implanted devices or for any reason (diabetics), some of this has already happened in Katrina, etc., could be sol. There are no guarantees in this life.
This Vietnam veteran thinks you have this statist fool pegged exactly right ...
Imagine, a "new" way to play "tag."
And some fools here would declare that to be "freedom"
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