US Group Implants Electronic Tags In Workers

[Merika]

US group implants electronic tags in workers
By Richard Waters in San Francisco
Published: February 12 2006 22:02 | Last updated: February 12 2006 22:02

An Ohio company has embedded silicon chips in two of its employees - the first known case in which US workers have been “taggedâ€Â� 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,â€Â� 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 “readâ€Â� by a device similar to a cardreader.

“There’s nothing pulsing or sending out a signal,â€Â� 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.â€Â�

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 “wearerâ€Â� 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.
Link: http://news.ft.com/cms/s/ec414700-9b...0779e2340.html
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Would you let someone put a chip in you for employment purposes?

[Vautrin]

No - I would resist. Constitutionally (at least here) this is at least borderline, if not way over the top. I would build a device that would deactive / molest those implants (should be possible with electromagnetic waves).

Assuming I become a psycho-therapist, the information that I and a female client are in the same room does not tell anyone anything about our activities. So bring in the cameras, and more adequate video systems to get down on all the activities people perform. Great ...

If distrust is basic, no wonder that everyone tries to cheat on the system.

[Merika]

I wouldn't accept one either....religious reasons. 8)

[Weiser]

Depends on the job and how much they are paying me. Everyone has a price

[Adonaicole]

I wouldn't accept one either....religious reasons.

What if they told you that you would get a citizens dividend every year of several thousand dollars if you took one. Strictly voluntary of course, but if you don't get one, you lose your job, your bank account, stores no longer take cash so you can't buy anything (except through illegal barter). Sound far fetched? When social security was introduced a lot of religious people objected on the grounds that they didn't want to have an identification number. To assuage those fears, the government promised that the ssn would never be used for identification and they even took the further step of printing on the social security card, "Not to be used for identification purposes". That was removed in the late 70's when everyone had forgotten about being concerned about having an id #. Now you can't get a job, a drivers license, a bank account without one and if you renounce your social security number, you will be fired, lose your license and your bank account will be closed. It happened to a friend of mine, who opted out of the "voluntary" system. Another interesting fact in the equation, the company who makes the chips has built a factory in China with the capacity to produce 3 billion chips per year.

[Merika]

LOl Adonai....just like you....I've read the back of the book!

[Vautrin]

It is all a matter of administering things - being in control, top-down. We have similar issues with ssn.

I think we have dozens of unique numbers. And the thing is, if you make a mistake to fill out a form for social security, or student loans, they will be able to exactly tell you what the correct answer to the question is!

Everyone who has access to those data knows everything of everyone. That is scary.

I actually discovered I had a double in name-identity, who was born on the very same day as I myself. Which means that some forms do reach the wrong person. Great!

[Merika]

Originally Posted by Vautrin

I actually discovered I had a double in name-identity, who was born on the very same day as I myself. Which means that some forms do reach the wrong person. Great!

Now see....I would be a little concerned over a situation like that. Especially in a smaller country where they could find you faster. I would at least make sure you have different middle names and physical appearances.

[Vautrin]

I would not know. I never met the guy. At least as far as I know.

And at least once a year some surgeon screws up an operation (nationwide), because he got the wrong file of the patient. Often resulting in damaging disabilities. Another reason for me to dread hospitals.

[Merika]

Well....maybe a chip would stop all that. LOL!

[Adonaicole]

And at least once a year some surgeon screws up an operation (nationwide), because he got the wrong file of the patient. Often resulting in damaging disabilities. Another reason for me to dread hospitals.

I have a funny story about that. I hurt my arm, in the army one time and had to go in for xrays. Now remember, I'm in the army and have a big freakin name tag on my shirt. The xray technician takes a picture of my ankle. I tell him, I didn't hurt my ankle, I hurt my arm. He says, "I know what I'm doing, just let me do my job." So I'm like, "whatever" but I'm getting pissed. He proceeds to take pictures of my leg and hip after about 10 pictures (none of which were my arm) I finally get out of there and I'm smokin hot. I find a doctor and explain to him what just happened. So the doctor goes back in to the xray room with me, where the technician has my medical file on top and is taking a picture of a (limping) soldiers arm. The Dr. says, "what are you doing?" and the technician says, "taking a picture of his arm like the file says". The Dr. takes the file, points to the name on the file and then points to the name on my shirt. The technician then took a picture of my arm but he didn't even apologize...what a moron. Good thing it wasn't surgery.