CHIPPING A MATTER OF TIME

I believe that we will, in the not-too-distant future, be “required” to be microchipped. Let me make it clear from the start. This column has nothing whatsoever to do with various online conspiracy theories that claim that the Covid vaccine has a microchip in it to control humans. It doesn’t. Take your jab folks, and let’s get society opened up again. Asap. I have previously written about the numerous intrusions into our daily lives. Apps on so-called smartphones – smart for who? – that can track your every move; big tech harvesting our data; and that ever-so-helpful-yet-terrifying Alexa device.

However, any future implanting of microchips into humans has privacy implications that go way beyond all of this.

Microchip implants in humans are actually nothing new, we already use the technology for health procedures such as in pacemakers, for epilepsy and Parkinson’s to name but a few. They have even been placed in knees and hips. A definite and most welcome advance in medical science. None of this concerns me whatsoever. I welcome it.

What does concern me, though, and what I want to talk about is not microchipping for medical procedures like those mentioned above, but future massive state–run microchipping of us all. Embedded under the skin, most likely in the back of the hand.

You may well laugh, but if you’ll momentarily accept that I may be right and that it will happen, let’s get into the real debate... should the microchipping of all humans be welcomed or shunned?

Why would a society even want to do this? One word: Control.

It’s all about data these days. And having all your life stored in one tiny chip is so convenient. But for whom?

With millions now set to keep working from home, employers could use them. Especially handy, or intrusive – you can delete where appropriate. No way to fudge your work hours when you have to scan that chip every day.

Eventually your chip could store all your personal data, which of course will be held and “controlled” by government.

Eye and facial recognition could also be widely implemented. It is already used to devastating effect in China.

Maybe none of this bothers you? It doesn’t sit comfortably with me.

We are most definitely heading towards a cashless society. I have written about this before and why I am against it. Cash equals freedom. Your freedom to buy what you want, where and when you want. But with cash gone, that power is transferred to the system.

Maybe you think going cash-free and using contactless is convenient. Sure, it is, but take it a step further, when you’ll pay by scanning your microchip or your eyes which will be linked to your bank account. What if they, whoever “they” are, for whatever reason, decide no, you’re not getting that product, or we’re not letting you buy a plane ticket to go to that country, you’ll just be denied it. With no cash anymore, we as individuals will have lost our buying power and freedom. “Computer says no...”

You may well think I’m talking out my rear end, because technology would never be capable of all this. Fair enough, but I ask you to recall... It wasn’t so long ago that we had three channels on the TV. Look at what TVs can do now.

Mobile phones in the 1990s were clumsy bricks. Look at them now.

The internet itself was pretty basic 20 years ago, even 10, but look at it now.

First up, the benefits of microchipping. No

more carrying of physical documents that are so easy to lose. No more printing things off, better for the environment. All your bank accounts and credit card details in one place, library card, bus pass, gym membership, supermarket loyalty card, you name it. Also, no need to remember dozens of passwords anymore, how good would that be?

It will make international travel so much easier. Faster and safer payments on all purchases, no grubby bank notes to handle either. You’ll be able to open your car door with a swish of the back of your hand, then sit back and let Google drive it for you. No more car keys to lose.

Are you currently struggling to learn a new language? Those days could soon be over, for that microchip could instantly transform your English-speaking voice into that of any language you tell it to.

In a nutshell, all the benefits can easily be described in one word. Convenience. And I passionately believe that alongside the deeply worrying phrase of “keeping us safe”, the word “convenience” will be the word that is used to help sell and promote microchipping to the sheep. Sorry, people.

Many are already excited by mass human microchipping. I, for one, am not.

Will it be convenient? Absolutely. No question of that. But what price convenience? Remember the “convenience” of having that Alexa product in your home? Amazon has admitted that it records and listens to your private conversations. Think about it.

The downsides to microchipping. No surprises here. Security data breaches and privacy. Who will have access to your data? I believe that over time, your data will be up for grabs to everyone from security services to insurance companies. Exploit your data, exploit you.

How secure will the data on your chip be? Could the data be stolen? What will happen to those who refuse to get chipped? No international travel? No bank account? No job? The list could be endless. Who will own the data on your chip? You? The government? Big tech? I doubt it will be you. The content of this chip, the data, is you – your life.

If we are heading down the microchipping route, I’m sure many will be happy to go along with it, while others will be dead against it. Therefore, how will they manage to implement it and avoid a huge public outcry? Easy, drip feed over the years.

I think it will start voluntarily. It could possibly start with immunisations. There is, of course, a huge debate going on right now about Covid passports for travel, even talk about needing them in order to enter a sporting event or pub. But in the not-too-distant future, why even bother to carry a health or immunisation passport; an app on a cumbersome phone, or worse, printing off a piece of paper? It could all be stored on the chip on the back of your hand. Much more “convenient”.

Another thing that intrigues me – will people of religious faith have their own moral objections to being chipped? Possibly, I really don’t know.

Would you agree to be microchipped by the state?

Initially you’ll have a choice of course, but for how long will that last?

The future? Cash will be obsolete, gone, no more, it’s heading that way right now. Paying by means of a contactless physical plastic card? That may well seem ultra-modern today, but it will soon be as outdated as writing a cheque.

Mobile phones with apps will be old hat, facial recognition will be the norm at airports instead of boarding passes, and indeed for entry to all manner of places. And that microchip in the back of your hand will be used to purchase your supermarket products all linked up to your bank account.

It will hold your health records and medical info, police record, marital status, tax records, everything you’ve ever posted on social media, your phone-call records, maybe even who you are inclined to vote for.

Wonderfully convenient or terrifying? A trip down a sunlit path on to the yellow brick road towards a brighter more convenient future, or a slide down a dangerous path to a darker more sinister world?

Only you can decide that one.

And with the current state of our world, would it not be a “perfect time” to start drip feeding a microchipping project now, possibly under the guise of “keeping us safe”?

I’ll leave you with a few words from the distinguished Lord Sumption, a former senior judge of the Supreme Court.

“The real problem is that when human societies lose their freedom, it’s not usually because tyrants have taken it away. It’s usually because people willingly surrender their freedom...”

Microchips in the human body, I think, is going to be the number-one issue in just a few years’ time.

If George Orwell could come back to life for one week and take a long hard look at modern Britain, see the CCTV surveillance, power of big tech, our own total disregard for our own digital privacy, and the potential microchipping of humans, he may well say something like: “Well, I did warn you.”

I’d love to hear what you think on this subject.

Over to you.

THE CONTENT OF THIS CHIP, THE DATA, IS YOU – YOUR LIFE

GONE: Microchips would take the freedom of jobs, payments and privacy out of our hands.

Clockwise from above left: Microchips are already used for medical procedures; would society as a whole be reluctant to agree to microchipping? There will come a time when contactless payments appear as old fashionedtechnology.