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.
Actually, there are people who do believe this. And that's the scary part. The worst sorts of tyranny are propagated by those who are convinced that the tyranny they support is for the good of everyone.
Being topical, one only needs to read the history of slavery in the United States to find a whole basketful of rationalizations why slavery was a good thing for the slaves.
Whoops, was in a rush, so "their"...hehe.
>>>Ok, you can stop now, we know you're a troll, you don't have to prove it anymore.
I've been a member here longer than you, but don't strain yourself doing a user search, lazyboy. And by all means, don't make a meaningful contribution to a very important discussion.
>>>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.
Wrong. The CFRs of this funding specifically state that ownership and audits of everything the monies are used for lends ownership to the GRANTOR.
The database that will be storing all the data is a GLOBAL database, not federal, not national.
>>>>You must trust the government implicitly. I don't.
I don't either, but if I abiding by the law, I have nothing to fear. Only law breakers distrust the government with a wiretap.
And in other news, CityWatcher president Nicolai Carpathia extolled the benefits of chips. "We will have a much more secure company with this technology. Who would be against this great leap forward asked Carpathia?"
Oh, don't get paranoid. Reread the Revelation to St. John. The mark of the beast damns the recipient--meaning repentence is impossible. An RFID tag the receipt of which can be repented of with a flick of a knife-blade (albeit at some self-inflicted pain, but that always goes with serious repentence) isn't it.
I'm betting on something with a neural-computer interface. The recipient won't be able to repent because the recipient's will will be submerged by whatever he or she is linked to by 'the mark'.
This article is without the usual innuendos/word plays of a hoax article, so one is left to ask, "What's in a name?".
Maybe he's got a boss running around by the name of Louis Cypher.
>>>The database that will be storing all the data is a GLOBAL database, not federal, not national.
So you are saying that there is no way for the federal government to implant a chip (of any manufacture) in a citizen of the United States, without sharing the info it contains with FOREIGNERS? I find that hard to believe.
I have to share the info in my dog's implant with some Dr. No database if they want it?
Don't be so certain. In Rome, life was a lot easier for Christians who would recognize the (quasi) diety of the emperor. This may mean people who decide to 'go along to get along', and reap the benefits, are accepting the 'mark'.
The chip is owned by a private company, and the information related to the chip is in their database.
This means they WILL share it with whomever or whatever they desire, and you (the chippee) have NO say as to how the information is shared.
As to your "law-abiding" argument, all that needs to be done is a change in the law, and SURPRIZE! you're now a criminal, all proven by that wonderful citizenship-proving chip you so eagerly accepted.
>>>If a simple tattoo is forbidden, then surely an implant is too.
How about a pace-maker? :}
That is an incredibly foolish attitude towards our government. I don't trust them, I play by the laws and I still fear them. Why? Because they have too much power as is.
>>>The chip is owned by a private company, and the information related to the chip is in their database.
This means they WILL share it with whomever or whatever they desire, and you (the chippee) have NO say as to how the information is shared.
As to your "law-abiding" argument, all that needs to be done is a change in the law, and SURPRIZE! you're now a criminal, all proven by that wonderful citizenship-proving chip you so eagerly accepted.
Why is the chip owned by a private company? Private companies manufacture the chip, why would they own it? Sun makes computers for the DoD, but they don't own the data on them.
And when has the government just changed the law and made all law-abiding citizens criminals? I am not sure I understand what you are saying?
No
They can't
Probably
Do you approve of gun registration, because it would aid law enforement ?
>>>...they have too much power as is.
They also have too much on their plate to bother (even if they were so inclined) listening in on MY phone conversations. My life is much less interesting than that of a drug dealer or a terrorist.
>>>So you are saying that there is no way for the federal government to implant a chip (of any manufacture) in a citizen of the United States, without sharing the info it contains with FOREIGNERS? I find that hard to believe.
I'm not saying that at all.
Matter of fact, before Bill Clinton left office, he authorized in 2001 an 84% increase in the government's investment in nanotechnology research and development, National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/New/html/20000121_4.html.
This governmental increase has been combined with non-governmental organizations (NGO) and grant programs.
So the partnershipped departments can make it mandatory; but not as a federal mandate. They are creatively testing this now with the National Animal Identification System.
And it does leave the data available to foreigners. If an animal's data needs to be pulled by another country, that data will be available, which will include all the data of the premise and stakeholder.
So yes, it is available to foreigners.
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