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Microchips For Human Implantation As ID

securitas writes: "Reuters is carrying this story about Applied Digital's VeriChip -- a subcutaneous microchip (like the ones they use to tag pets, livestock and wildlife) used as ID for humans. They are radio-activated and would initially be used to store and transmit medical data via the Internet. They will be also used as tracking beacons and personal ID according to a company exec. The launch will be in Europe and South America. The company has made an FDA application and the FCC has already licensed airwaves for a similar device." We've mentioned this company's "Digital Angel" before, but there's an understandable sudden interest in such tracking technologies.

8 of 450 comments (clear)

  1. Old news by J.D.+Hogg · · Score: 2, Informative

    Prof. Kevin Warwick in the UK had an electronic tag implanted in his arm as an experiment not so long ago.

  2. Re:Big Brother cheers by evilpaul13 · · Score: 2, Informative

    What part of the US Constitution empowers the Federal Gov't to mandate a unique ID and tracking device be embedded in every person?

    As for international tracking:
    1) A terrorist isn't going to line up to have a beacon implanted in them.
    2) A terrorist is going to be in line to get it removed.

  3. I've got a better idea. by Happy+go+Lucky · · Score: 3, Informative
    We use ear tags for cattle. They're a hell of a lot cheaper.

    Let's say that I contact someone while I'm at work, wearing the icky blue polyester suit. How am I going to read this chip? With a regular driver's license, I can take it back to my car, shine a light on it, see if it's fake, run it for warrants and license status, find out if the holder is a sex offender, and copy everything onto a citation or a field interview card. And if my flashlight and my car's map light quit, I can still read them.

    Oh, and did I mention I can look to see if it's been faked, maybe compare it to one of the standard references?

    With these things, no. I'm a cop, not an electronics tech. I've got no way of knowing if the signal is legitimate or from a black-market home-programmed chip. It'll probably take special equipment to read these chips, and I've learned that expensive electronics have a way of failing about fifteen seconds before I need them. And six lines of data leaves no room for a signature.

    So, I'm not entirely sure about the practical aspects of this, or whether there's actually anything to gain.

    And how about we look at the legal aspects. I'll admit that I haven't gone through either the Federal or Colorado constitutions with a magnifying glass lately, but I don't recall seeing any authorization for government to brand people like so many livestock.

    Of course, I could be wrong about the Constitition thing. However, at the academy they did say that the parts of the Constitution that were written in the margins in red crayon didn't count.

    But then, a lot of the experimentation with implantable ID was overseas. And in much of western Europe and in Japan, cops are expected to know aspects of individuals' lives that I don't even tell my parents. Like who's sleeping with who. Or who lives where-there are ways in the US for that information to be pretty much completely unavailable to police, but not in Japan or most of western Europe (for some reason, France, Germany and Holland spring to mind, but I wouldn't swear to that.)

  4. MRI's by MikeLRoy · · Score: 2, Informative

    I guess everyone who has one of these will be unable to get an MRI (since it will probably have to have metal in it). For those who don't know, MRI's and pacemakers aren't compatible since MRI's user super-huge magnets for scanning.

    --
    -Michael Roy Some people are like Slinkies. Not really useful, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down
  5. metal detectors by greenriot · · Score: 2, Informative

    Unless this microchip was completely nonmetallic, I would assume that it would set off any metal detectors in airports, government buildings, etc. Given the sensitivity of those things, you'd think that putting a mandatory amount of metal in a person's body would cause problems with scanning for legitimate weapons. If decreased the sensitivity of the machines so that they wouldn't be set off by these microchips, you could risk missing things being smuggled into the secure area. However, if you didn't increase sensitivity, then you'd have to hand search every person going into the secure area, which just wouldn't be practical. I don't see how this ID microchip would help ensure safety if it acts in this manner. Not to mention the fact that the human body would probably reject the microchip in the same way that it rejects transplant organs and any other foreign object. And then there's the fact that a good portion of people probably don't want one of these things in their body in the first place, but I suppose that part doesn't matter...it's for the good of the team after all...or something.

  6. Re:Why by cxvx · · Score: 1, Informative

    And then you would see a law that considers al these things as terrorist acts, because only a terrorist would need to do such things.

    --
    If only I could come up with a good sig ...
  7. HOLY BLACK SHIT! by Vidmaster_Steve · · Score: 2, Informative
    Revelations 13:17 (if I'm not mistaken) says, in a nutshell, that only he who bears the name of the Beast or the number of the name of the Beast is allowed to make purchases.
    The Intel Inside logo (well, back in the 486 days) looked an awful lot like a red 6.
    Ergo, if we have Intel tracking chips inside of us, and Intel Inside tatoos on the outside... And only be able to make sales... Oh shit... We're through the looking glass here people. Now that we've stumbled across their little conspiracy, all our lives are in danger. Yours, mine, even the life of the complacent and idiotic Joe Sixpacks out there, who will willingly and enthusiastically get this little red (now blue, as if that would throw us off the track. ha!) 6 tatooed upon their buttocks.
    This terrifying New World Order that Bush threatened back in '91 is beginning to rear its festering black head. I'm not sure if we, as a society will be able to handle the massive upheaval, this horrendous expulsion of civil liberties...

    Oh no, in my agitated state, I seem to have knocked off my special wave-nullifying helmet. Now FEMA knows where I am, and their black helicopters will begin their inexorable swoop down onto my location. I've only moments before the elite paramilitary units rappell through my windows.

    SLASHDOTTERS! MAKE SURE MY MESSAGE IS SPREAD THROUGHT THE LAND!

    Now, If you'll excuse me, my Kalashnikov and I have a date with those who dare edit out Article Five of our Great Bill of Rights...

    --
    Why is it when I hit ^R that ZSH calls me a cocksucker?
  8. The mark of the beast! by nohonor · · Score: 1, Informative

    Its called the Mark of the Beast and without it you will not even be recognized as alive. No food, water or logeing will be given to anyone who doesn't have it.