February 23, 2007
VeriChip Implant Creepy?
Finally, someone with a lot more influence in the RFID industry than I said it: VeriChip implant unnecessary and a little creepy [Spychips]
Thanks to RFID Journal's Editor and Founder Mark Roberti for saying what had to be said. I've been pretty vocal about the questionable use of implanted RFID chips, a la VeriChip, and have repeatedly said that some wearable object with an RFID chip is just as good. Which is what Mark Roberti says as well.
On the other hand, Roberti also criticizes media for bad press regarding implants. I assume I am such a person. Or maybe not. Regardless, I see absolutely nothing wrong with making people aware of useless or offensive applications of RFID.
I could be misunderstanding, though Roberti didn't say he's against monitoring people with RFID, as Liz McIntyre points out at SpyChips. In fact, you have to read his article and decide for yourself. Nothing against him personally, but while he says it's creepy and isn't a big fan of implanting people, there could be some benefits of doing so.
From my viewpoint, all power to anyone who wants to willingly have an RFID chip implanted in themselves, but I'll continue to maintain that no one has any right to force an implant on anyone for any reason.
VeriChip's recent poor IPO performance would suggest that not many people think there's much of a market for living human implants. (VeriChips were used to identify the dead during disaster recovery in New Orleans, after Hurricane Katrina.)
--
Did you enjoy this post?
« 25 Top Influencers in the RFID Industry | Main | Contactless Credit Card Security Issues »
