Remember how many times we’ve been reassured that RFID technology could never be used to track our location via satellite? Well, the truth has finally surfaced in a story about microchipping prisoners in Britain.
Ministers are planning to implant “machine-readable” microchips under the skin of thousands of offenders as part of an expansion of the electronic tagging scheme that would create more space in British jails.
Amid concerns about the security of existing tagging systems and prison overcrowding, the Ministry of Justice is investigating the use of satellite and radio-wave technology to monitor criminals.
But, instead of being contained in bracelets worn around the ankle, the tiny chips would be surgically inserted under the skin of offenders in the community, to help enforce home curfews. The radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, as long as two grains of rice, are able to carry scanable personal information about individuals, including their identities, address and offending record.
A senior Ministry of Justice official last night confirmed that the department hoped to go even further, by extending the geographical range of the internal chips through a link-up with satellite-tracking similar to the system used to trace stolen vehicles. “All the options are on the table, and this is one we would like to pursue,” the source added.
The move is in line with a proposal from Ken Jones, the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), that electronic chips should be surgically implanted into convicted paedophiles and sex offenders in order to track them more easily. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is seen as the favoured method of monitoring such offenders to prevent them going near “forbidden” zones such as primary schools.
“We have wanted to take advantage of this technology for several years, because it seems a sensible solution to the problems we are facing in this area,” a senior minister said last night. “We have looked at it and gone back to it and worried about the practicalities and the ethics, but when you look at the challenges facing the criminal justice system, it’s time has come.”
The possible value of the technology to the UK’s justice system was first highlighted 18 months ago, when Acpo’s Mr Jones suggested the chips could be implanted into sex offenders. The implants would be tracked by satellite, enabling authorities to set up “zones”, including schools, playgrounds and former victims’ homes, from which individuals would be barred.
“If we are prepared to track cars, why don’t we track people?” Mr Jones said. “You could put surgical chips into those of the most dangerous sex offenders who are willing to be controlled.”
Apparently we’re already using such technology in our own prisons.
The internal tags also have a use in maintaining order within prisons. In the United States, they are used to track the movement of gang members within jails.
How long before we’re required to get chipped in an effort to combat terrorism? It’s becoming a scary world, people.
7 Comments
There is a process of acceptance that you have to be aware of. They suggest microchipping your dog at the vet and you become accustomed to the idea. They recommend microchipping cows and birds to contain mad-cow disease and avian bird flu. They suggest using cell-phones to keep in touch with your children and you become dependent on that technology. They suggest implanting a chip in your child’s backpack at school and you consider the idea a reasonable one. They propose that felons not be allowed to vote and soon that idea is entrenched. The microchips are implanted in criminals and you, the “good” citizen not in jail, think it could help combat crime so it must be a good idea. There are microchips in our passports now. Unless we are aware of this acceptance process they will soon become the norm.
Thanks Brian, for heightening our awareness. I will go hide in a dark corner now.
@ fightingwindmills: You are exactly right. We are so conditioned and comfortable that we will accept anything. I’m fearful of where we’re headed.
I remember having to read George Orwell’s book “1984″ in high school (pre-1984:))
He was off a couple of decades. Worth a re-read to see we’re bcoming.
Smile, Big Brother is watching you!
@ Jim: Believe it or not, I’ve never read 1984. Everyone says I need to, but it would probably just make me even more paranoid.
Speaking of books to read, have you read The Handmaid’s Tale?
You definitely need to read 1984–I read it for the first time a couple of years ago. This is very much in line with what Orwell depicts. Another story that this post reminded me of was Kafka’s The Trial. I haven’t read it yet, but the basic premise is that a man is arrested for a crime that he didn’t commit and is forced to defend himself in court, but no one will tell him anything about the crime he has been charged with.
@ fightingwindmills: No, I haven’t read that one. I’ve got so many recommendations on books, I don’t know if I’ll ever get caught up!
@ Ashley: I will definitely have to read 1984.