In this blog post, we examine the convenience Verichip brings and the potential risks that come with it, pondering how far we should allow it.
Recently, the importance of personal information has increased exponentially in our society. Alongside the rapid transition into an information society, personal information has transcended being a simple means of identification to become a social and economic asset. The world we live in today is one where we sift through an overflow of information, selecting only what suits us and making it our own. We use this information to shape our identity and express it in various ways. For example, we can share our interests on social media to reveal our unique personality. This process of forming our own identity leads to the creation of personal information.
The formation of this personal information occurs in far more complex and sophisticated ways than in the past. Previously, personal information was stored on items like resident registration cards, digital certificates, and credit cards. Today, however, digital devices like smartphones easily collect location data, internet usage history, and even health status. This information is analyzed by companies and government agencies and utilized for tailored services or policies. But what if all these elements were integrated into a single means?
The Verification Chip is the embodiment of this vision in reality. This chip, introduced in 2002 by the American company Applied Digital Solutions (ADS), is a computer chip. Measuring 12 millimeters in length and 2.1 millimeters in width, it can be easily implanted under the skin using a syringe. The Verichip consists of a silicon memory and a wireless transceiver. Therefore, a scanner can read the information stored within the chip and transmit it externally. The Verichip’s lifespan is expected to be around 20 years. The information contained within the chip includes genetic data that can verify an individual’s identity or a unique identification number. Thus, the moment it connects to an external database storing personal information, all details about the individual can be accessed. Personal details, financial transaction information, biometric data, and medical records can all be accessed with a single scan. Furthermore, when linked to GPS, it enables tracking of an individual’s location.
Beyond providing such everyday convenience, the Verichip can also prove useful in emergencies or criminal situations. In May 2002, the Jacobs family in Florida became the first to implant Verichips. The family chose to implant the microchip because the father nearly lost his life after being rushed to the hospital following a traffic accident, unable to communicate his condition to the doctors. In this way, when treating patients who cannot communicate, using the microchip to access their biometric information and medical records could enable faster treatment or surgery. Additionally, Verichip can play a crucial role in large-scale disaster situations like natural disasters or terrorism. If the locations of victims can be quickly identified and their health conditions monitored in real-time, rescue operations and treatment processes would become significantly more efficient.
In cases of kidnapping or abduction crimes, the chances of rescuing the victim drop dramatically if the golden time is missed. However, if a person has a Verichip implanted, their location can be tracked using GPS, enabling rapid rescue. It also helps prevent repeat offenses by ex-convicts. The Verichip company promotes its practicality for protecting children from abduction and managing criminals. Such technology can play a vital role not only in crime prevention but also during natural disasters or humanitarian crises.
Yet, despite these advantages, the debate over VeriChip persists. Why does this controversy arise? Paradoxically, the reason is linked to VeriChip’s very strengths. The ability to access medical records and enable automatic payments with a single scan means that anyone could scan a VeriChip implanted in another person’s body and obtain all their critical personal information. This leaked information can be used to compare individuals against each other, leading to discrimination. GPS technology, once used to prevent crimes and locate missing persons, can be transformed into a tool for tracking individuals’ movements, thereby infringing on privacy. For instance, a data breach at a workplace could expose an employee’s personal details, health status, and even private life.
To grasp the issue of privacy leaks, consider insurance companies. When underwriting health insurance policies, insurers investigate applicants’ medical records and past illnesses to determine eligibility or set premiums. Similarly, the human genome map has now been fully analyzed. Consequently, genetic information can reveal an individual’s probability of developing cancer. If genetic information were stored on VeriChips and their implantation became mandatory, institutions like companies could analyze this genetic data to determine hiring decisions. If individuals’ activities were collected non-profitively, not by government agencies but by other entities’ servers, people’s daily lives would be under constant surveillance. This would inevitably lead to the emergence of a continuous surveillance system. Moreover, such surveillance has the potential to severely infringe upon individual freedoms. This could lead to serious issues that threaten the very foundation of liberal democracy.
However, while the debate over VeriChips continues, biometric chips may be necessary for crime prevention and individual welfare. In South Korea recently, heinous crimes have become increasingly commonplace, and it is becoming a world where raising children with peace of mind is growing ever more difficult. Currently, only sex offenders are required to wear electronic ankle monitors, and residents within a certain distance of a sex offender are notified of the offender’s address. However, utilizing Verichip could track the location and movements of individuals who have committed crimes above a certain severity level, potentially preventing crimes before they occur. Furthermore, if children were fitted with Verichip, even if a child were to go missing, as often happens now, their whereabouts could be determined. Furthermore, if we aspire to a society free of discrimination, using Verichips could allow people with disabilities to receive medical care without burden. In emergency situations, most patients are unable to describe their condition. Pre-operative tests are necessary to determine the surgical site, but during these tests, the patient’s condition inevitably deteriorates. However, using Verichips could save lives by ensuring the golden hour is not missed. Furthermore, establishing a national database utilizing biochips could create an integrated system for crime prevention and social welfare. This would ultimately strengthen the social safety net and significantly contribute to lowering crime rates.
We have now examined the characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and reasons for utilizing VeriChip. While VeriChip does carry the potential risk of infringing on personal privacy, individuals must be able to directly verify the history of their VeriChip being scanned. Furthermore, limiting scanner possession to government-authorized institutions can minimize the leakage of personal information from VeriChip. By minimizing these drawbacks in this manner while utilizing VeriChip, our society can transform into a more livable place. Of course, this requires not only technological development but also prior discussion on legal and ethical aspects and the establishment of institutional safeguards. Social consensus is necessary to ensure VeriChip is not merely a technological innovation but is utilized in a way that safeguards human dignity and rights.
