VeriChip: Encyclopedia - VeriChip

VeriChip

VeriChip is an RFID identification product from VeriChip Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Applied Digital Solutions, a Florida corporation.

VeriChip - Overview

VeriChip is a subdermal RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) microchip implant that has uses in security, financial, emergency identification, and other applications. About the size of a grain of rice, each VeriChip product contains a unique identification number that is captured by passing a RFID reader over the VeriChip.

The standard location of the microchip is in the triceps area between the elbow and the shoulder of the right arm. The insertion procedure is performed under local anaesthetic. The chip is subdermally inserted, and is afterwards inconspicuous to the naked eye

A radio signal passes from the reader, energizing the dormant VeriChip, which then transmits the verification number. This number can subsequently be used to identify the implanted individual by consulting a registry in Switzerland, maintained by the VeriChip Corporation.

In October 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruled that VeriChip is not a regulated device with regard to its security, financial, personal identification/safety applications but that VeriChip's healthcare information applications are regulated by the FDA.

VeriChip - Controversy

Many of America's Christian leaders have come out against the device, as they consider it may be (or might be the fore-runner to) the Mark of the Beast that will be present during the End of Times (see Eschatology).

However it is not only US Christian groups that have expressed grave concern; the existence and application of the Verichip has troubled many across the world who regard it is a pre-cursor to, or the beginning of a global security and tracking device, perhaps part of a cashless surveillance society or New World Order type scenario. Privacy advocates, such as CASPIAN's Katherine Albrecht have protested the Verichip, labeling all such RFID devices as spychips. This in spite of the fact that the Verichip is based on the low frequency RFID technology limiting scanning to a range of 3 feet or less, which makes it impossible to scan on a global basis with a system such as GPS for instance.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "VeriChip", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki