] "Britain is considering a controversial scheme to implant
] surgically electronic tags in convicted paedophiles amid
] fears that the extent of the abuse of children has been
] massively underestimated."

This story is so sensationalistic I don't even know where to begin. I'm sure its bound to make the rounds on the net because its right up the net's alley and it is SO over the top. There is a kernel of truth in here somewhere, but it takes a good bit of critical thinking to remove the fluff.

First: You can rest assured that no one has developed implantable devices that can be tracked by satellite.

The reality here is that a victims group has proposed that every "sex offender" in England be "chipped" and monitored. The vast majority of the people who are classified as "sex offenders" are apparently people who've downloaded pictures of minors having sex off the internet. The organization which is responsible for dealing with sex offenders has responded that they are open to considering the idea.

This doesn't really mean anything. Being open to considering ideas doesn't mean you are going to implement them, and to be sure, there are reasons why victims groups do not write legislation.

However, this IS the first instance that I am aware of that a group has actually advocated the involuntary "chipping" of people. Its interesting in that light. This won't be the last of this.

Guardian Unlimited Observer | Politics | Surgical tags plan for sex offenders