Travel card implant may get under inspectors’ skin

SYDNEY: A Sydney biohacker tired of fumbling for his Opal card at ticket gates has implanted the public transport travel card’s chip in his hand, a move which could land him in trouble with ticket inspectors.

MeowLudo Disco Gamma MeowMeow, his legal name, has cut down the Opal chip, had it encased in biocompatible plastic and implanted it just under the skin on his left hand.

The chip, measuring 10mm by 6mm, was implanted by a piercing expert during a onehour procedure.

‘‘My goal is to have frictionless interaction with technology,’’ Mr MeowMeow told the ABC.

‘‘It gives me an ability that not everyone else has.’’

However, Mr MeowMeow is aware he may get in trouble if transit officers ask to check his card.

Customers caught tampering with their Opal cards can have them cancelled. — AAP