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RFID Implants for Spanish Revelers

WWW/X writes "USA Today reports that clubbers in Barcelona are getting drunk and being implanted on site with RFID chips in order to pay their bills without carrying around bulky items such as credit cards. The article states that the implant can go anywhere, however it does not state whether anyone has chosen their forehead." The club's website describes the program (link in spanish).

18 of 382 comments (clear)

  1. Barcelona by F34nor · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Loved it, loved the music, loved the food, still wouldn't get RFID to pay for drinks.

  2. Glass? by marshac · · Score: 4, Interesting

    USA today says that it's made out of glass... couldn't this possibly break? Ouch. Then again, USA Today is known for their high quality journalism...

  3. Scalpels just became a mugging tool! by ericspinder · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I can see it now...
    Lean against the bar and accidently buy everybody a round!

    Or better, yet muggers using a knife and cutting out the implant. I'd feel better if the scanner would only work an inch or two from the chip, rather than several feet. Otherwise, in a crowded bar how would you know who is paying?

    --
    The grass is only greener, if you don't take care of your own lawn.
  4. what if they leave? by Kjuib · · Score: 2, Interesting

    does the chip stay or does your body slowly reject it and shoot it across the room? Maybe they could make disposible ones, that they can swallow and pass it a day or two later... that would be gross, but no implants...

    --
    - Your stupidity got you into this mess, why can't it get you out? -Will Rogers
  5. Not just privacy issues.. by Karamchand · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ..but counterfeiting/identity theft issues as well. If the RFID is readable that easily, I can just read of the wealthist customer's RFID and make one with his ID for myself. Voila, I'll have a drunken night at the club!

    1. Re:Not just privacy issues.. by Dahan · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Sure, they're using VeriChip. Even the USA Today article says that. Why do you assume that the VeriChip has a processor capable of doing any encryption?

  6. Reminds me.. by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    of when I was in Mallorca getting polaxed every night. The fact that I had to use cash meant that I could pace myself and not blow all my money, as you would do very quickly when you're so drunk that you could lose track of how much (or little) money you can spare. If I was able to just wave my hand and get a drink I'd be bankrupt in no time. I think that's a more pressing concern than any privacy issues.

    --
    Drill baby drill - on Mars
    1. Re:Reminds me.. by superflippy · · Score: 2, Interesting

      when you're so drunk that you could lose track of how much (or little) money you can spare

      This is a pretty legitimate concern. There was a scandal at the Gold Club, the biggest "gentlemen's club" in Atlanta, a few years ago. They were charging extra stuff to the tabs of men who were really sloshed, figuring they wouldn't remember the next morning how many lap dances they'd had. I believe they targeted business travelers and pro athletes, people likely to have the money but not scrutinize their bills, and were able to get away with it for quite some time.

      --
      Your fantasies contain the seeds of important concepts.
  7. An excellent idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I know I'll be modded down, but this will enhance privacy.

    No more does someone have to worry about getting their wallet stolen because they were too drunk to notice. This means fewer credit card thefts, the leading cause of identity theft & privacy violations.

    1. Re:An excellent idea by mpost4 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      not true, I had my credit card number stolen. One I never use on the net. but the thing is I still had the card. ya right they don't need to get the card to use it.

      My guess is that some place I went to and payed with it, eather trashed their copy of it with the number on it (in pittsburgh many places still print out the full card number and exp date, I keep my copy in a box at home, but who know what they hell they do with theirs) or one of the servers copied the number down.

  8. Easy access to cash & alcohol by axis-techno-geek · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Too me this just sounds like a bad idea.

    If you pass out, your RFID chip still works, guess who's buying!

    At least with cash, when your out, your done. Credit cards have a signature and some liability, what do the RFID tags have? (sorry no habla)

    --
    This is not the sig line you are looking for... -- Old Jedi Sig Line Trick
  9. We are becoming 1974. by cybergrue · · Score: 2, Interesting
    What a wierd way of starting an article. I would have thought that 1984 would have been invoked in an article like this, but no, the author means 1974, and talks about Watergate et all. He even goes on to make a pun about Braingate, a brain computer communication tech.

    Actually, I think the whole article is just wierd. At least three topics have been rammed together into this article. Does anyone have any proof that this is actually happening, or is this just some marketing hype that a reporter fell for?

  10. Photo of implant being implanted by pa3gvr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Have a look at the professional enviroment where they do the implant:
    Baja implant photo.

  11. Wait until Vegas gets this. by Animats · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Once this ties in with slots...

  12. When did human evolution jump the shark? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I worry about a world in which people are so easily seduced into giving up such things as privacy, liberty, health and freedom all for the sake of a little short-term convenience. Have we really devolved into little more than lazy unthinking robotic blobs of flesh?

  13. My cats by Fuzzums · · Score: 2, Interesting

    My cats have RFID implants with a serial#.
    If they get lost their necklace tells the finder to call a number / go to a vet to get the number read.
    The number corresponds with my address information in a database and I get a call.

    My point is this: it's no 'new' technology and the chip does not migrate in the cat's body (it's implanted near the left shoulder).
    Of course the implantation should be done by skilled people. My guess is that it ins't the bartender who implants the chip ;)

    --
    Privacy is terrorism.
  14. Fraudulent Transactions by Murgalon · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So what if you get so drunk you pass out. Your buddies can just drag your carcass to the bar and get free drinks the rest of the night. There really should be an "off" switch. Perhaps the ability to set a max amount per day.

  15. Re:Just how stupid/vapid/careless/insane ... by jrumney · · Score: 2, Interesting
    does one have to be to decide: it's too difficult to carry money or plastic or identification. I'll just have a "nurse" implant a device under my skin.

    Barcelona does have one of the worst rates of pickpocketing in Europe. So I can see why people don't want to be carrying their wallets around when they're drunk.