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Are ID chips too invasive?

SimonWaldram	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 6:30 PM Are ID chips too invasive? An FDA-approved chip implant raises Big Brother concerns. By Ivan Penn Published July 28, 2007 It appears that the effort to implant microchips into humans is not only alive and well but moving ever closer to getting under everyone's skin. Delray Beach firm VeriChip, the nation's only FDA-approved company allowed to produce microchips for injection into people, got a boost recently from the American Medical Association. The AMA said such devices "may help to identify patients, thereby improving the safety and efficiency of patient care." But the council warned that the devices' safety and security are unclear. That was enough to create a stir in the technology and medical worlds as well as among privacy and religious folks. And enough to put a smile on VeriChip's face. Scott Silverman, chief executive officer of VeriChip, says the primary aim is to help high-risk medical patients such as those with diabetes, Alzheimer's, cancer and heart conditions. The chip, implanted in the upper right arm, allows medical personnel to access a patient's medical history in the event the person is unconscious or otherwise unresponsive. The person's data is stored in VeriChip's database. Sounds a little spooky, and makes George Orwell seem more like a prophet than a novelist. Silverman says it could save lives, "it's fairly safe and there have been no side effects." VeriChip's sister corporation, Digital Angel Corp., has been implanting chips in pets for 15 years. "It should be first and foremost voluntary," Silverman says. "No one should ever be forced to get an implantable microchip." But Katherine Albrecht, a co-author of the book Spychips, whom I'm sure drives Silverman crazy, argues that VeriChip is taking us down a treacherous road. "You can feel the writing on the wall that this is the direction our society is moving," said Albrecht, who received her doctorate in education from Harvard, specializing in adult development and consumer education. The chip uses technology called a Radio Frequency Identification tag. Albrecht points out that the RFID technology used in the chips is becoming increasingly pervasive throughout our society as merchants use it to track inventory and purchases. "If everybody had a chip in them ... we would be blissfully unaware of Big Brother," Albrecht said. She says the program is flawed because if there are problems accessing VeriChip's database, the chip will prove useless. And, she says, as the AMA pointed out, there are questions about patient security. And the religious have concerns of biblical proportions: tagging people with such devices reads like a precursor to the "mark of the beast." Silverman says his company's focus is on medical patients. And the chip they use is "passive" or, simply stated, it does not emit a strong signal. To read the chip, medical personnel must use a scanner and be within 12 inches. And he says the data is stored in a facility as secure as any of the best. He does admit once you have a chip, it could be used for other "applications." You can tie financial accounts to them and other data. He points out a year ago one company injected two employees with chips for security reasons. In addition, nightclubs in Barcelona, Spain, Rotterdam, Holland, and Edinburgh, Scotland, use them so patrons can access VIP lounges and make purchases. A bit much for me. The only chip I want in my body is a potato chip, maybe a tortilla chip. Definitely not a microchip. The Consumer's Edge is a twice-monthly column to help consumers in the marketplace. Ivan Penn can be reached at or (727) 892-2332. FAST FACTS The chips are inserted in the upper right arm with a a hypodermic-type needle. The cost of the procedure: $200. VeriChip uses a patented process, called bio-bind, to secure the chip to muscle tissue and prevent migration. Medical personnel wave a scanner within 12 inches of the chip. A 16-digit identification appears to identify the person. VeriChip maintains the patient's records in its database. Customers pay an annual fee, from $20 to $80, to keep a medical file. HERE'S THE EDGE: The American Medical Association Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs recommended that radio frequency identification (RFID) devices can be used to help identify patients, improve patient care and secure access to patient clinical information. But the AMA cautioned that the "efficacy and security" of the devices has not been established. As precautions, the AMA said, physicians implanting such devices should: Disclose the medical uncertainties of RFIDs to patients as part of the informed consent process. Strive to protect patients' privacy by storing confidential information only on RFID devices with informational security similar to that required of medical records. Support research into safe, effective and potential nonmedical uses of RFID devices in people. VeriChip Corp. CEO: Scott Silverman Annual revenue: $30-million Products: Includes anklets for newborns as part of an infant anti-abduction system used in hospitals; and the VeriMed implantable chip. Sister company: Digital Angel Corp., which produces implantable chips for pets and livestock. The company has annual revenues of $60-million. from: http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/28/Business/Are_ID_chips_too_inva.shtml
Alstroph	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 6:54 PM http://www.dmusic.com/forum/googlevideo/27071#9
SimonWaldram	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 6:56 PM Ties in nicely
PrincessTast...	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 8:19 PM What's next? Brain-control devices?
Opossum	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 8:21 PM On 28th Jul 2009, PrincessTastebud said: What's next? Brain-control devices? In the case of where I live, if only!
8111	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 8:42 PM RFID tecjnology is becoming very common. You are labeled 'paranoid' if this concerns you. This concerns me.
8111	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 8:42 PM sorry: "Technology"
SimonWaldram	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 8:46 PM It's not that it concerns me...it's more that the potential ramifications completely scare the crap out of me.
aorpete	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 8:48 PM AGREED!!!
ShadowMom	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 9:20 PM Yes.
ChillinBuzz	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 9:21 PM The "Model State Emergency Healthcare Act" is being passed in many states. This allows the Governor of each state to declare Martial Law giving unprecedented authority such as forced vaccinations. Here's an idea... What better way than to call an emergency (the reason for Directive 51) and then use this to implant chips into everyone without their knowledge or consent... Just a thought, nothing more...
aorpete	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 9:24 PM AAAAGGGHHHHH!!!!!!! NEVER TALK OF WHAT THEY COULD DO... ITS JUST WAY TO SCARY TO COMPREHEND!!!
ChillinBuzz	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 9:28 PM The problem is, aorpete, people DON'T think of things like this and the few who do get shot down by those who believe the crap that comes out of their leaders' mouths. Sometimes the only way IS to throw the idea up, to make people THINK. It's like watching someone building dynamite - All the ingredrients appear bit by bit... Then all you need is a bowl to mix them all up in... You get the picture. You watch as it all unfolds but when you realise what is happening, it's too late. I'm surprised the Bush supporters haven't been out in force lately... Are they finally seeing the light? Or just too busy with their heads up his ass?
ShadowMom	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 9:59 PM She's busy being the First Lady.
ChillinBuzz	Date: July 28, 2007 @ 11:53 PM I do suggest to anyone who has never seen it to go download / purchase / rent a film called "1984". You will understand the madness we are heading towards. Take a good look at the mess the society is in and how the government controls its' people under the guise of freedom... Then take a good look at what we have already now. Chips won't be much use if another major war starts... There won't be anyone to implant them into.
imemine	Date: July 29, 2007 @ 12:07 AM On 28th Jul 2009, ChillinBuzz said: I do suggest to anyone who has never seen it to go download / purchase / rent a film called "1984". It's also a book! Published in 1949---it's my doctrine! Welcome to the new world my friends! There’s a song around here called A little like Winston about it too! Chips in ya head?-----Might already have ‘em!
zedsalt	Date: July 29, 2007 @ 10:49 AM "'It should be first and foremost voluntary,' Silverman says. 'No one should ever be forced to get an implantable microchip.'" Ah, that's reassuring! After all, when has there EVER been an instance of a well-intentioned inventor coming up with something that has ended up being used for nefarious purposes?
freddemillio	Date: July 29, 2007 @ 11:43 AM Time to get a new plant because this one's getting a little crazy
freddemillio	Date: July 29, 2007 @ 11:44 AM That's PLANET not PLANT. Time to get a new pair of hands because mine can't spell planet right.
hantu	Date: July 29, 2007 @ 11:52 AM
aorpete	Date: July 29, 2007 @ 11:55 AM On 28th Jul 2009, ChillinBuzz said: The problem is, aorpete, people DON'T think of things like this and the few who do get shot down by those who believe the crap that comes out of their leaders' mouths. Sometimes the only way IS to throw the idea up, to make people THINK. It's like watching someone building dynamite - All the ingredrients appear bit by bit... Then all you need is a bowl to mix them all up in... You get the picture. You watch as it all unfolds but when you realise what is happening, it's too late. I'm surprised the Bush supporters haven't been out in force lately... Are they finally seeing the light? Or just too busy with their heads up his ass? YIKES!!! I guess your right bud... Time to pull my head outa the sand... It's really easy to be an ostrich... but like you say... to go on that way will end-up bein too-little too-late!!! WAKEY! WAKEY!
evansorchid	Date: July 29, 2007 @ 12:10 PM I don't know....I kinda like those Island Doritos Chips. Quite tasty.
Alwex	Date: July 29, 2007 @ 6:42 PM Another important work to check out is Animal farm, also written by george orwell. One group that writes alot of music based on the same theme is Radiohead ("Hail to the thief" & "Ok Computer" probably has the strongest reference to 1984 and animal farm). But yea, its really fucking scary to think what people do with power, when we let them. But people lie and manipulate other people so its not easy to do anything about it
Veracohr	Date: July 29, 2007 @ 8:54 PM Mark of the beast.
DeadraveN	Date: July 30, 2007 @ 12:38 PM On 29th Jul 2009, imemine said: [QUOTE info=ChillinBuzz,July 28, 2007 @ 11:53 PM] I do suggest to anyone who has never seen it to go download / purchase / rent a film called "1984". honestly, Ime, how many tin foil hats do you own? It's also a book! Published in 1949---it's my doctrine! Welcome to the new world my friends! There’s a song around here called A little like Winston about it too! Chips in ya head?-----Might already have ‘em! [/QUOTE]
DeadraveN	Date: July 30, 2007 @ 12:38 PM wtf happened to my post? thatr was supposed to be making fun of ime, not CB!!
ChillinBuzz	Date: July 30, 2007 @ 10:04 PM You know fredemillio said plant instead of planet, by mistake... Well, we do need a new ficus plant in the Swank Lounge... I own a tinfoil hat! It's for the cat, I swear! Knowing her luck, she'd probably survive a blast anyway. She finds all the best hiding spots, damned if I can find her unless it's dinner time. Doritos.... I'd sell your country to the Devil for a bag right now...
ChillinBuzz	Date: July 30, 2007 @ 10:06 PM oh it's two Ds... sorry Fred
ShadowMom	Date: July 30, 2007 @ 10:38 PM I could say the word PREVIEW here, but why spoil all the fun?
evansorchid	Date: July 30, 2007 @ 11:32 PM honestly, Ime, how many tin foil hats do you own? Thanks for laugh RaveN....
Opossum	Date: July 30, 2007 @ 11:46 PM But privacy is illegal where I live. I've no choice.
ChillinBuzz	Date: July 31, 2007 @ 1:27 AM It's also illegal to wave your privates... But don't tell Mojosnake that.
TheTimbreWolf	Date: July 31, 2007 @ 3:28 PM how do you know there isnt already a chip inside our bodys! i've had surgery a couple times in the last 5 years and for all i know i could be tracked by the government or something. ya know im always rubbing the back of my neck!...
ChillinBuzz	Date: July 31, 2007 @ 11:39 PM

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