By Jo Best, 18 March 2005 16:15
NEWS From RFID implants for Spanish club-goers to cybernetics for academics, human beings are ever more keen to blur the line between man and machine - and the EU has something to say about it.
Currently, no legislation governs the implanting of technology in the human body and, according to the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE), an advisor to the EC, it's a situation that needs to be addressed.
The European Commission this week adopted an opinion on the ethical aspects of ICT implants in the human body, declaring they should only be given to those in need rather than those who wish to enhance their faculties.
"Efforts should be made to make sure that such ICT implants are not used to create a two-class society," the EC said. "Access to ICT implants for enhancement should only be for the purpose of bringing children or adults into the 'normal' range for the population... A second permissible purpose would be to improve health prospects, such as enhancing the immune system to be resistant to HIV, for example."
What, however, is not acceptable is using such implants to track individuals or to discover data about them.
"ICT implants due to their network capability could be misused in several ways for all kinds of social surveillance or manipulation... In some cases, the implantation of microchips with the potential for individual and social forms of control is already taking place.
"The EGE stresses the importance that not only the individual has the right to protect his or her own personal data but that society should take care that online and surveillance systems, where they are permitted, should not become systems of untenable restriction."
The EC, however, believes that using implants as surveillance tools is acceptable, as long as government has legislated for it first.
"The EGE insists that surveillance applications of ICT implants may only be permitted if the legislator considers that there is an urgent and justified necessity in a democratic society and that there are no less intrusive methods."
The EGE also recommends that an independent adjudicator be appointed to monitor rulings in such cases.
And while the organisation foresees the use of subcutaneous technology implants as a tracking device, it does believe one use of implants is unacceptable in all cases: using tech to turn people into zombies.
"The use of ICT implants in order to obtain remote control over the will of people should be strictly prohibited."
Comments
There are 8 comments. Join the discussion
1. anonymous
Implants to track people are NOT okay.
2. Ken Hall
How many people have accused me of being a paranoid delusional conspiracy nut for daring to suggest that Government's would want to implant chips in people's skin for tracking purposes? This article states that the EU thinks, under certain conditions, that this would be OK.
I wonder if Charles Kennedy knows and what is the Lib-Dems feeling about this?
The really frightening part is how much of what that nut David Icke has written is coming to pass. The government's of the world are proving him right. They are looking at introducing trackable bio-metric ID cards linked to databases and the longer view is trackable ID chip implants.
3. Mark S. Marks
I dont mind the cops tracking, But what is to stop the Demon worshipers from tracking one with a scaner? I know of no way to block demo scaners and not block cop scaners ! Id sue the gov. if somthing happed to me or mine because of a chip.
4. anonymous
What about Oyster cards. Used to track people?
5. anonymous
David Icke; not such a nut after all.
Also see book Rule by Secrecy by Jim Marrs.
Are greedy technology companies and their backers taking over the world?
6. Ben Deredundat
If you are carrying a cell phone less than five years old, then you are already carrying a tracking device.
7. mick mclaren
has anyone hear been on david ickes website or read one of his books if not please read one or visit his site before branding the man a nut
8. John The Worriedparent
Have you ever had your child go missing in the mall or worse be abducted! or a loved one not return home at night, and night after night you die min. by min waiting for hope !!This is where implants will be worth a million time their weight in gold. So get off of your conspiricy theory soap box, the martians are not comming for you (even if they are what the hell are you going to do about it!) No body wants to keep track/ spy on a population of fast food eating, unemployment abusing gas guzzling car buying, pot smoking,child raising, 40 hr a week working, under payed, trash can draggin, lawn mowin, speed limit breakin, obsessive compulsive, narcissists (If "they" do, there already doing it, so what the hell are you going to do about it (OO7) put on your tin foil helmet ?!) remember if anyone comes up to you talking about the matrix, take the RED pill. In the mean time do the world a favor DON'T wear your seat belt!