Are you an immigrant ? We'll implant a chip in you...

**Blodrast** · 06-03-2006, 03:52

Was looking around on http://slashdot.org, at this article (Proposal to Implant RFID Chips in Immigrants).

These are not necessarily relevant in and of themselves, I just mentioned them so that you can see the path by which I got to the actual article: http://www.livescience.com/scienceof...fid_chips.html

For yor convenience, I'll paste the article here:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

So, what do y'all think about this ?
Should we implant chips in human beings ?
I do have an opinion about this, but I'll let some of you express yours first; it just seems more fair to me that way - to maintain the main post of the topic just informative, without actual opinions. I am sure the following posts will have plenty of that

.

**Blodrast** · 06-03-2006, 04:17

hmm, replying to own thread, how lame...
Anyway, I just thought it would make an interesting point to this thread to say that relatively recently (4-5 months ago) I read a paper (published in 2005) on breaking the RFID encryption used in car keys and wireless payment tags.

You can find the general idea here: http://www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/ho...an05/rfid.html,
and if you're actually interested in the paper, you can find it here: http://rfid-analysis.org/.

Please note that before someone jumps in to say that "Oh, but for these chips we'll use better algorithms" and similar stuff, the encryption algorithm in the TI's devices was quite strong and "difficult to break", too. The problem lay in its implementation.

Some highlights:

Originally Posted by The Article

Using a relatively inexpensive electronic device, criminals could wirelessly probe a car key tag or payment tag in close proximity, and then use the information obtained from the probe to crack the secret cryptographic key on the tag, the scientists said. By obtaining this key, lawbreakers could more easily circumvent the auto theft prevention system in that person's car or potentially charge their own gasoline purchases to the tag owner's account.

The researchers said that more than 150 million of these transponders are embedded in keys for newer vehicles built by at least three leading manufacturers. The transponders are also inside more than 6 million key chain tags used for wireless gasoline purchases. The computer security researchers discovered a way that tech-savvy thieves can get around the encryption safeguards in these systems.

They then purchased a commercial microchip costing less than $200 and programmed it to find the secret key for a gasoline purchase tag owned by one of the researchers. By linking 16 such chips together, the group cracked the secret key in about 15 minutes.

The researchers had similar success with a chip-equipped car key. With the secret key in hand, the team was able to simulate the RFID tag and disarm the car's anti-theft system without the built-in tag present. (Keyless remote control systems to lock and unlock car doors do not use RFID chips).

**GeneralHankerchief** · 06-03-2006, 04:41

Gah, I should probably stay out of this one because my emotions will get in the way...

But that said, if the USA ever does plant chips in its residents, I will immediately move to a country that does not. Even if it's -removed-.

Edit: Removed the country name before the mods slap me. Just imagine the worst, most oppressive, dangerous country you can think of. That's where I'd go.

**Fragony** · 06-03-2006, 09:08

This has to be a late april's fool. Anyway, if I ever take an implant I want to have a red eye like the terminator.

**Ironside** · 06-03-2006, 10:27

If the politicians and thier friends agrees to do it first and thier movement is public information then I'll consider it.

Even if that will only happen when hell freezes over, my consideration will last about 0,4 seconds before I move to another country.

Thinking about a bit more, I can possibly consider it when it comes to very severe crimes with a high re-offending frequence (pedofiles), but that's about it.

**Banquo's Ghost** · 06-03-2006, 11:04

Originally Posted by Ironside

Thinking about a bit more, I can possibly consider it when it comes to very severe crimes with a high re-offending frequence (pedofiles), but that's about it.

And therein lies the dilemma and the slippery slope it teeters upon. If you concede the principle of monitoring as an appropriate response to one situation, then a government can extend it to other circumstances almost at will.

All they have to do is frighten the voters enough and soon all registered liberals will be tagged.

There's always one idiot willing to give up liberty for apparent security, and always a politician willing to help him.

(Just to make my point very clear, because the text medium may mislead, I am not referring to you as being any such idiot.

)

**solypsist** · 06-05-2006, 15:14

the only kind of implants i approve of are of the breast variety.

**Idaho** · 06-05-2006, 15:37

Originally Posted by solypsist

the only kind of implants i approve of are of the breast variety.

Not fussed about those either - although unlike the implants in the OP, they wouldn't make me leave the country ~

**rory_20_uk** · 06-05-2006, 19:48

It does sound far fetched: "yup we found you, you're an illegal. But we're going to let you free, and after a while we'll gather up a sample of people. Depending on who is chipped will enable us to statistically examine the number of illegals..."

Basically, is this so that once illegals are caught, they are chipped and then deported so they can't come back in? Else, as has been said just boot the buggers out.