The microchip implants in humans have not only become a reality but are spreading. The recent decision of a Wisconsin firm to offer such implants to its employee volunteers has again sparked a Debate about the advantages, but also about the possible dangers of such moves. Most workers at the Three Square Market company didn't seem to be much worried about the possible dangers since a large part of them volunteered to have these chips implanted. Still, although the experts can name quite a few advantages of such chips, they also can list quite a few possible pitfalls Human Microchip Implants can bring along.
"Biohackers" becoming superhumans?
The number of "biohackers" or people who decide to augment themselves with super-modern technology seems to be growing. As in the case of Three Square Market workers (as reported, 50 of the 85 employees there voluntarily opted to have microchips implanted), currently, most of these chips are used for radio frequency identification (RFID). In essence, such chips work as contactless smart cards. Having such an implant enables the carrier to register with certain devices that will enable certain functions, such as transferring your contacts to a friend's mobile phone by simply touching it.
It seems that this and other possible conveniences are the key attraction to accepting these chips.
As reported by CNBC, a company called Dangerous Things, one of the manufacturers of these chips said that in 2016 it installed 10,000 of these chips that are usually placed under the human skin. BioHax International, the company that supplied the microchips to Wisconsin's Three Square Market says that dozens of other firms around the world, even a few multinational ones, are looking into possibilities to implement similar concepts in their workplace.
The concerns are on the rise too
One of the key concerns expressed so far with such implants is keeping tabs on employees and intrusion into privacy. Quite a few human rights organizations have carried the NBC prediction "that that in 2017, all of America will be tagged with microchips." Such predictions seem to be based on the recently passed Bill H.R.
4872 which on its page 2014 talks about “Class II Device That is Implantable”. The proponents of microchips though counter with arguments that picking up personal information that is contained in these chips is much easier to be picked up without their use. RFID technology is already in all mobile phones, all sorts of chip cards, whether it is credit or train card. Companies like Google or Facebook may already have that information already.
On the other hand, some other possible downfalls are less refutable. As Kevin Warwick, a professor of cybernetics at Coventry University told BBC, “If a company says we will only give you a job if you have such an implant, it raises ethical issues.” The more material downfalls may lay though in the fact that these chips are also prone to hacking and security concerns.
Mark Gasson, a researcher at Reading University, who tweaked his implanted microchip to download some malware when online. He stated that is was "a violating experience", making him "a danger to building systems". Not an experience that will make those still unconvinced about the use of human microchip implants change their minds easily.
