Usage of micro-chipping technology in our everyday lives has rapidly been growing. Nowadays, RFID (Radio-frequency identification) chip technology is being used in phones, cards, products and animals for example. As this technology comes with lots of advantages, would there be a chance that we start seeing the implementation of RFID chips in humans too any time soon? This article focuses shortly on some of the advantages of human micro-chipping, as well as some privacy concerns that could follow along.
As a matter of fact, human microchipping is already reality, as two companies are already offering their employees the injection of a microchip into their hands. The chip contains personal information, allows access and an employee could even buy a snack with it (forbes.com 2017 ; Dailymail.co.uk 2017). Besides within just a company, this sort of chipping could come with various advantages if being viewed in a broader perspective.
Convenience
An RFID implant can hold all kinds of information, which could basically mean that we do not need to carry around our wallets and keys anymore. Bank accounts, as well as personal information (identification/medical records) could be linked to this chip and therefore you may not need passports and cards anymore for example. Think about the numerous potential applications that this could have in terms of convenience, but also in health (medical history easily accessible), safety and security. Imagine yourself paying in supermarkets, logging into systems, going through passport control by the shove of your hand. Wouldn’t that be seriously convenient?
Privacy
We often say that we care a lot about our privacy but when it comes to convenience, people are usually agreeing to a lot of terms and giving up information within a mouse-click. Imagine having almost all of your information stored in a chip and the value that chip would have to large corporations for example. Add GPS (not in RFID chips though) to that chip, and basically ‘they’ could know where you are, what you do, when you do it and with whom. What terms would big companies have you (silently) agreed on in order to make certain things with that chip possible and so get all of that information? Privacy could get in serious jeopardy.
When human microchipping would become a thing, the question is: do we care as much about privacy as we care about convenience? Would you get chipped yourself if it would make your life easier in lots of ways?
I am curious to hear your opinion about this subject!
References:
Collins, T. 2017. Would YOU let your boss implant you with a microchip? Belgian firm offers to turn staff into cyborgs to replace ID cards. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4203148/Company-offers-RFID-microchip-implants-replace-ID-cards.html
Mack, E. 2017. Why The Company Putting ‘Chip’ Implants In Employees Isn’t Starting A Trend. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericmack/2017/07/25/microchips-implant-three-square-market-wisconsin-chip/#4ab09a95463a
Van Hooijdonk, R. 2017. Human Microchipping, The Benefits And Downsides. Retrieved from https://www.richardvanhooijdonk.com/en/the-benefits-and-downsides-human-microchipping/
Hey Ricardo, interesting post!
Personally I believe that microchipping is taking technology to a whole new level. This is one of the first technologies that is interacting with the human body permanently. As compared to smartphones and smart home technologies that interact with humans on demand a Microchip is always there. For me this is a huge factor to take into account before accepting this technology to enter my body. Although the benefits are really interesting I believe this technology is taking it one step too far.
Hi Ricardo, interesting blog post.
I don’t think I would get chipped if it became available. Most of the advantages you listed are definetely good to have, however not at the cost of giving companies and the government pretty much all information about myself. I realize I’m probably already doing that by carrying my phone everywhere, but having a chip under your skin that you can’t turn off or control in any way is a step too far for me. The tracking that companies currently already do is frankly already at uncomfortable levels. 2 weeks ago I googled for a gym in my area, 1 week later I all of a sudden get an ad on Facebook for the only gym’s website which I clicked on.
Then there is also the concern of data like that being hacked and used for wrong purposes. And agencies like the NSA would also love to have access to that data, I’m guessing that when put under sufficient pressure companies would oblige.
At least with my phone I could decide to just not use it anymore or not bring it with me. A chip I think would be a step too far.
Really interesting topic Ricardo. Seeing that the world is submitted to the exponential technological growth, I am not surprised to hear that chipping humans and thus making a first connection with software and the human body is already happening these days. In probably 10 years this could even be as normal as using a smartphone. That actually kind of frightens me, because I have seen too many movies in which these technological enhancements went wrong. But lets forget the doom scenarios and let’s think objectively. Chipping human with a smart device like these chips have great advantages. Just like you said, being able to travel with no documents or being able to pay without a wallet seem seriously convenient. And of course, what Daniel Aerts states, that companies would be able to track a employee by having a tracking system in that chip also worries me because that is just plainly unethical. But who says those chips need to be traceable? Why can’t we just make them purely for the purpose of saving personal documents, like your bank account, passport and other important documents that is only for you convenient to use and which others cant even get access to. IF you make the chip personal and only for you, so that it is not linked to your company you work for but if it would be a smart device which you can buy and only you can access, aren’t those privacy problems then solved?
What does worry me though, is that having a chip in your body does mean you have a computer inside of you. And theoretically, every computer can be hacked. Also, criminals who are not as handy with computers as a ‘cyber criminal’, can go old school and try to cut your device out of your body which can cause serious problems on the street. Is it all worth that hassle? Is a computer chip in your hand worth all the risks? I think its a choice a person has to make for him or herself. But I do think that the option should be there. Why not invent something that is going to be invented anyway? We might as well invent it proper and state regulations around backed by the law, then letting it being invent by a company who just wants to make profit. Let the government take control, but just not too much control 😉