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.

Comments

Re:Awesome

[ZaneMcAuley]

I assume they would use IPv6 :)
That way you can also get QoS data and priority :)

Re:Awesome

[leastsquares]

So you mean that you don't ask for their IP?

hmm

[MoceanWorker]

how long before someone h4x0rz it?

As long as the chip uses a M$ operating system

[rickthewizkid]

As long as the chip uses a Microsoft OS, I'm okay with the chip. It will crash so often that nobody would be able to get any information out of it.

(Scenerio)
Police: Sir, I need to scan your ID chip.
[attempts to scan chip and fails]
Police: Uhhh for some reason, I am getting a blue screen of some sort on my reader. I knew they shouldn't have used Windows on these things!

-RickTheWizKid

forget personal info...

[niekze]

I want one that stores Mp3's

but the real question: how long before some /. reader hacks it and mounts an 80gigger under his arm?

I can see it now....Linux ported to Steve

Re:I dont really like this but.

[BrookHarty]

Your not a TERRORIST until you commit the act of terrorism, until that date, its free speech.

But of course one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter.

Won't happen in current U.S.

[Micah]

It won't happen in the US as we have it today.

My understanding of prophecy is along these lines:

1. Spiritual forces start aligning the nations of the world to be more united in government and religion -- the UN and others are working on this now.

2. The Church (all true believers in Jesus) will be instantly raptured and will simply disappear from the earth.

3. Shortly after that, the Antichrist will sign a 7-year peace agreement with Israel. He will put the finishing touches on the world government.

4. Halfway through that 7-year period, he will be killed and rise again, indwelt by Satan himself.

5. THAT is when the Mark comes into play. People all over the world will be fascinated by his resurrection, and wooed by his false miracles. They will gladly accept this Mark.

Times will be *completely* different then.

Re:national ID cards should be mandatory for all

[Brainboy]

begin sarcasm

And all those that oppose these measures and rant about 'lost liberties' only give ammunition to terrorists and scare hard-working Americans

end sarcasm

I WANT ONE OF THESE!!

[FFFish]

For my neighbour, that is, and with a simple modification: I want to be able to press a button on a remote control, and zap the bastard.

Starting at midnight last night, the S.O.B. started playing his car stereo at ungodly decibel levels. Pictures on my wall were rattling. And when I phoned in the complaint to the cops, did they show? Hell, no: not in the hour and a half they had to come by and experience it all!

So I want something embedded into this moron, that I can control. Swear to god, if he acts like a reasonably decent human being, I'll never, ever press the button. But pull another stunt like he did last night, and he can writhe on the ground screaming in electronic agony.

I, of course, don't need an implant. I never piss people off. :-)

Re:I've got a better idea.

[hazem]

Even worse is the problem is that most Americans, including the people working in the government, have forgotten that the Constitution is a document that limits government by spelling out what it CAN do. Instead, they now believe that it only restricts what what the government CANNOT do - so by default, the government is free to do anything that is not specifically prohibited in the constitution.

This was one of the major arguments AGAINST the bill of rights. Many believed that it was at best unnecessary because the government was not explicitly given the ability to curtail the personal rights found in the Bill of Rights. For example, the Constitution did not give the government the right to curtail free speech, so therefore it should not have been necessary to make an ammendment prohibiting it from doing so. At worst, the Bill of Rights establishes the framework for the government to do anything it wishes, as long as it is not already prohibited elsewhere in the Constitution.

Sadly, the "worst" scenario is what we have now. The government should be permitted to do only what is spelled out in the Constitution. Instead, it does everything that is no prohibited in the Constitution. This is wrong.

I guess that makes me a libertarian.

Re:Spooky stuff

[pongo000]

Social security numbers are used by everybody because they are (theoretically) unique numbers everyone has, and relational databases love
unique IDs.

This is the inherent danger of using the SSN for identification purposes: The very uniqueness of the SSN allows the cross-tabulation of any data stored on any database anywhere in the world which uses the same unique key. It might be unique, but the SSN is also a ubiquitous identifier. It's what permits the state to arrest you on a routine traffic stop because of non-payment of alimony. It's what allows a city government to deny you employment because you're late paying your local taxes (maybe because of a legitimate reason).

The government is the danger, very much so. As government becomes more centralized, power is taken away from the people. Information is power, and thanks to your SSN, your fingerprints (yes, some states do require fingerprints for things such as driver licenses, concealed handgun permits, etc.), and other unique data, the government is able to touch your life in ways you might never imagine.

I worked for the US government for over a decade. During that time, I was forced, over the course of several years, to learn my way around the Privacy Act to force the government agency I was working for to expunge certain derogatory information about me from their records. You see, I was essentially "blacklisted" by the government, which made it very difficult for me to find employment after leaving government service. I was eventually successful in having the lies removed from my government files, but to this day, I find myself having to explain about "gaps" in my employment records from the deleted data in various financial and government transactions. This can be very difficult at times, trying to explain away data that isn't there without disclosing the data in the first place.

The government is far more dangerous than you can imagine. And I would hardly consider myself "complacent."

As for getting to work, I already have: I started railing against the use of SSN for personal identification purposes in 1989, and have continued to do so as time permits.