In this blog post, we’ll examine the convenience Verichip offers and the potential risks that come with it, while considering how far we should allow its use to go.
Recently, the importance of personal information has been growing exponentially in our society. With the rapid transition to an information-based society, personal information has evolved beyond a simple means of identification to become a source of social and economic value. The world we live in today is one where we sift through an abundance of information to select what suits us and make it our own. We use this information to shape our identities and express them in various ways. For example, we can reveal our unique personalities by sharing our interests on social media. This process creates a distinct identity, which in turn leads to the formation of personal information.
Unlike in the past, the formation of this personal information occurs in far more complex and sophisticated ways. Previously, personal information was stored on documents such as resident registration cards, digital certificates, and credit cards. Today, however, location data, internet usage history, and even health status are easily collected through digital devices like smartphones. This information is analyzed by companies and government agencies and utilized for personalized services or policies. But what if all of these elements were integrated into a single tool?
The Verification Chip is what brings this vision to life. This chip was introduced in 2002 by the American company Applied Digital Solutions (ADS). 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 silicon memory and a wireless transceiver. Therefore, information stored within the chip can be read by a scanner and transmitted externally. The Verichip is expected to have a lifespan of about 20 years. The information contained within the chip includes genetic data or a unique identification number that can verify a person’s identity. Consequently, the moment it connects to an external database containing personal information, all of an individual’s details can be accessed. This means that a person’s personal details, financial transaction history, biometric data, and medical records can all be accessed with a single scan. Furthermore, when connected to GPS, the chip can track the individual’s location.
The Verichip not only offers such conveniences in daily life but can also be useful in emergency or criminal situations. In May 2002, the Jacobs family in Florida, USA, became the first to have Verichips implanted. The family decided to get the VeriChip implanted because the father had nearly lost his life after being rushed to the hospital following a traffic accident, as he was unable to explain his condition to the doctor. In this way, when treating patients who have difficulty communicating, using the VeriChip to access biometric data and medical records will enable prompt treatment or surgery. In addition, the VeriChip can play a crucial role in large-scale disaster situations, such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks. If the locations of victims can be quickly identified and their health conditions monitored in real time, rescue operations and treatment processes would be significantly more efficient.
In cases of abduction or kidnapping, the chances of rescuing the victim drop dramatically once the “golden hour” has passed. However, if a person has a Verichip implanted, their location can be tracked via GPS, allowing for a rapid rescue. It also helps prevent repeat offenses by ex-convicts. Verichip’s company promotes the practicality of the device for protecting children from abduction and managing criminals. Such technology can play a crucial role not only in crime prevention but also during natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
Nevertheless, the debate over the pros and cons of the Verichip continues unabated. Why does this debate persist? Paradoxically, the reason is linked to the very advantages of the Verichip. The ability to access medical records and enable automatic payments with a single scan means that anyone can obtain all of an individual’s sensitive information simply by scanning the Verichip implanted in another person’s body.
Information leaked in this way is used as a means to compare individuals with one another, which leads to discrimination. Crime prevention and missing person tracking, which were once achieved using GPS, are transformed into a means of tracking individuals’ movements and infringing on their privacy. For example, a data breach at the workplace could expose an employee’s personal details, health status, and even their private life.
To understand the issue of privacy breaches, consider insurance companies. When an insurance company, particularly for health insurance, seeks to issue a policy, it investigates the applicant’s medical records and past medical history to determine eligibility or set premiums. In the same way, 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 a VeriChip and its implantation became mandatory, organizations such as companies would analyze this genetic data to determine hiring decisions. If individuals’ activities were collected not by non-profit organizations or government agencies but by servers operated by other entities, people’s daily lives would be under constant surveillance. This would lead to the emergence of a continuous surveillance system. Furthermore, such surveillance has the potential to severely infringe upon individual freedoms. This could lead to serious issues that threaten the very foundations of liberal democracy.
However, while the debate over the Verichip mentioned above continues, biometric chips will likely be necessary for crime prevention and individual welfare. Recently, heinous crimes have been making headlines more frequently in Korea, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to raise children with peace of mind. Currently, electronic ankle monitors are mandatory only for sex offenders, and the addresses of sex offenders are disclosed to people living within a certain distance of them. However, if biochips were utilized, it would be possible to track the location and movements of individuals who have committed crimes above a certain level, thereby preventing crimes in advance. Furthermore, if a child were fitted with a biochip, even if the child went missing as happens now, we would be able to know where the child is. Furthermore, if we aim for a society free of discrimination, biochips could enable people with disabilities to receive medical care without feeling burdened. In emergency situations, most patients are unable to describe their condition. Preoperative examinations are necessary to determine the surgical site, but the patient’s condition inevitably deteriorates during this process. However, with biochips, we could save patients’ lives without missing the golden hour. Furthermore, at the national level, establishing a database using 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.
So far, we have examined the characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and reasons for using the Verichip. Although the Verichip may raise concerns about invasion of personal privacy, individuals should be allowed to directly verify the history of scans of their own Verichips. Furthermore, personal data leaks from the Verichip can be minimized by ensuring that only government-authorized agencies are permitted to possess scanners. If we utilize the Verichip while minimizing these drawbacks in this manner, our society will become a better place to live. Of course, this requires not only technological development but also prior discussion of legal and ethical aspects, as well as the establishment of institutional safeguards. Social consensus is necessary to ensure that the Verichip is not merely a technological innovation but is utilized in a way that guarantees human dignity and rights.
