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US group implants electronic tags in workers
Financial Times ^ | 2/12/06 | Richard Waters

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.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: artbell; bigbrother; bravenewworld; chipimplants; chippendales; chipperdoo; chips; cowchips; cwii; electronicmonitoring; idchips; idimplants; pokerchips; potatochips; rfid; tagging; woodchips
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To: inquest
"Not to me it doesn't. Once it starts with anyone, it'll spread. It needs to be stamped out completely."

There are cases where it makes sense -- including politicians.

81 posted on 02/12/2006 6:21:15 PM PST by F16Fighter
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To: inquest
Absolutely right. I had this argument with my Dad. If you accept this premise, anything is acceptable as long as you are not in the scumbag category. But what if the time comes when it goes too far and you have to take a stand ... finish the story however you will.
82 posted on 02/12/2006 6:22:54 PM PST by ArmyTeach (Get a spine!)
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To: wagglebee

It will be sold to the public as making life easier.


83 posted on 02/12/2006 6:24:22 PM PST by dljordan
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To: Kimmers
George Orwells' 1984 is catching up with 2006 ... and leading us to a Brave New World... I always thought we'd skip the 1984 and slippy-slide into the Brave New World.
84 posted on 02/12/2006 6:25:19 PM PST by ArmyTeach (Get a spine!)
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To: wagglebee

666


85 posted on 02/12/2006 6:26:42 PM PST by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now.)
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To: Tench_Coxe

>>>Its either that, or I'd almost label some of the folks ( and its pretty easy to figure out who they are ) certifiable.

Cute. But people with sense will do a search of my posts and see your attempt to quickly dispatch anyone whose opinion PRECISELY track your own, for what it is: INTELLECTUAL LAZINESS. I have called troll for defending the Spanish electorate in 2004 (even though I live there and know a lot more about the mood of the Spanish people that pretty much ANYONE here), and now I am a troll for pointing out that chipping technology (despite nonsense about UN and NGO funding - the article is about a private firm) could aid law enforcement (as they themselves have said - just google it).

Despite your facile attempts to accept differing views, I suspect I will NOT be looking for a new username any time soon.

Nice try.



86 posted on 02/12/2006 6:26:50 PM PST by forrestroche (But ignorance, while it checks the enthusiasm of the sensible, in no way restrains the fools...)
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To: wagglebee

There is no way I would ever let this be done to me.


87 posted on 02/12/2006 6:27:31 PM PST by TXBSAFH (Proud Dad of Twins, What Does Not Kill You Makes You Stronger!!!!!!)
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To: forrestroche

I'll settle for certifiable then.


88 posted on 02/12/2006 6:30:52 PM PST by Tench_Coxe
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To: TXBSAFH

>>>There is no way I would ever let this be done to me.


They say it really doesn't hurt.


89 posted on 02/12/2006 6:33:10 PM PST by forrestroche (But ignorance, while it checks the enthusiasm of the sensible, in no way restrains the fools...)
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To: ArmyTeach
I remember reading it in High School, at that time it gave me the creeps. I also thought things like this could never happen....to be young and naive, I will take the young part but not the naive....
90 posted on 02/12/2006 6:33:52 PM PST by Kimmers
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To: Tench_Coxe

>>I'll settle for certifiable then.

The force is too strong in this one. I give up.


91 posted on 02/12/2006 6:36:00 PM PST by forrestroche (But ignorance, while it checks the enthusiasm of the sensible, in no way restrains the fools...)
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To: Kimmers

...it gave me the creeps


Do random drug tests or government databases give you the creeps? If your up to no good they should, otherwise, WHO CARES? I don't have to hide behind "privacy" rights (a liberal construct) or miranda warnings because I walk the straight and narrow.

You should too.


92 posted on 02/12/2006 6:39:10 PM PST by forrestroche (But ignorance, while it checks the enthusiasm of the sensible, in no way restrains the fools...)
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To: forrestroche

>>>>despite nonsense about UN and NGO funding - the article is about a private firm

Responding to one of my posts without pinging me?

Are you implying that companies do not sign on to nonprofit and privately funded focus areas to promote their agendas and that they do not receive royalties in doing so?


93 posted on 02/12/2006 6:40:34 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: forrestroche

Ok, you can stop now, we know you're a troll, you don't have to prove it anymore.


94 posted on 02/12/2006 6:41:08 PM PST by darkangel82
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To: wagglebee

If the Amish would just OK dancing and Freeping, I'd be in.


95 posted on 02/12/2006 6:41:37 PM PST by keats5
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To: Lancer_N3502A

Anyone come at me with a RFID tag and I'll blow they're head off. Not me, not in a million years will I adopt the mark of the beast.>>>>>>>>>>

How about the mark of someone who doesn't know the difference between the possessive and a contraction?


96 posted on 02/12/2006 6:43:38 PM PST by RipSawyer (Acceptance of irrational thinking is expanding exponentiallly.)
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To: forrestroche

You are right.....that stuff actually doesn't bother me because I do walk the straight and narrow.....


97 posted on 02/12/2006 6:45:17 PM PST by Kimmers
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To: HarleyD

The theological issues are not limited to "end times" stuff either.

Leviticus 19:28
"Never cut your bodies in mourning for the dead or mark your skin with tattoos, for I am the LORD."

If a simple tattoo is forbidden, then surely an implant is too.



98 posted on 02/12/2006 6:45:40 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: forrestroche
You must trust the government implicitly. I don't.
99 posted on 02/12/2006 6:47:17 PM PST by keats5
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To: Calpernia

"Are you implying that companies do not sign on to nonprofit and privately funded focus areas to promote their agendas and that they do not receive royalties in doing so?"

Nope - that's just another red-herring. The technology is either a good idea or it isn't and just because some liberal group or NGO may provide funding to one company (or five or ten), doesn't mean that OUR government can't put the technology to good use, and doesn't mean they have to give the info to the UN. Al Gore invented the internet, but looks like YOU are using it, doesn't it? I don't know what kind of car you drive, but I GUARANTEE YOU that some UN lackey drives one - you better get rid of it!!!! And maybe the UN even lobbied for the catalytic converter that sits in its exhaust path.

WHO CARES.


100 posted on 02/12/2006 6:51:29 PM PST by forrestroche (But ignorance, while it checks the enthusiasm of the sensible, in no way restrains the fools...)
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