Jello wrote:
] inignoct wrote:
] ] ] A Florida company has announced plans to develop a
] ] ] service that would allow consumers to pay for merchandise
] ] ] using microchips implanted under their skin.
] ]
] ] now, i don't know if it's the mark of the beast, but it
] raises
] ] some serious privacy concerns, yes?
]
] What could the possible benefit be of implanting something
] that you could just as easily have in your pocket, on a chain
] around your kneck, or in a watch?

well, according to the people who think this is a good idea, it's better because you can't lose it and it'd be harder to steal. it's certainly not a very compelling argument, speaking for myself.

Conjures visions of thieves hacking off fingers to get at the chip, but maybe i'm too cynical or paranoid.

my primary concern is that once people accept the idea of a RFID tag implanted in their flesh, which uniquely identifies them, anonymity is totally gone. how long til the chip is also your drivers licence, student id, library card, green card, social security card? How long 'til you can't walk thru a door without it being on record?

i think i read a paper on smartcards discussing the possibility of designing a system wherein the id can be used to guarantee the validity of a credential without creating a permanent link to the individual. presumably this could be adapted, though i'm not sure RFID's will ever have the internal logic/storage necessary for such a thing.

RE: Wired News: When Cash Is Only Skin Deep