November 4, 2004

RFID People, Animals and Things

RFID implantations for pets has been commonplace for years, with the "mad cow" disease outbreak last year the technology is being used to keep up with livestock. Now that the FDA has approved the technology for implantation in humans the debate about the privacy implications has begun. Will health insurance companies, life insurance companies, seek to require the technology to determine the insurance risk of clients? Will credit card companies seek to remove the need for cards and replace them with RFID imbedded technology. Could access to social benefits like social security, Medicare, and food stamps be tied to the use of RFID implanted technology to monitor clients and dispense benefits?

Microchips in people, packaging and pets raise privacy questions, Seattle Times, October 18, 2004.