RFID Chips in School Uniforms Track Students

Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:16AM EDT

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How would you feel about this: Tracking chips in kids' school clothing so that school officials can know their whereabouts during the school day?

Oh, it's happening. Ten students in a secondary school in the United Kingdom are being tracked through RFID implants in their school uniforms in a pilot program. Information Week reports that the kids attend Hungerhill School for ages 11-16 in Edenthorpe, England. 

Add the RFID chips to increased video surveillance and fingerprinting of kids, and this is a heavily tracked generation—for safety's sake.

That extra peace of mind for adults comes with a heavy loss of privacy for kids. Do you agree with David Clouter, a parent and founder of the children's advocacy group Leave Them Kids Alone, who says taking all these precautions has the effect of treating kids like criminals? Or do you agree with the parents who have OKed the pilot program who do not find it egregiously intrusive?

One possible side effect: Uniform sales may pick up as kids try to procure extra non-RFID-tagged clothing. As security expert Bruce Schneier writes on his blog: "So now it's easy to cut class; just ask someone to carry your shirt around the building while you're elsewhere."

LINK: U.K. Kids Get RFID Chips in School Uniforms [Information Week]

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  • 26 Posted by ally_731 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    This stuff is getting out of hand, this is not what our country is supposed to be about. What is everything comming to these days?!

  • 27 Posted by ally_731 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    This stuff is getting out of hand, this is not what our country is supposed to be about. What is everything comming to these days?!

  • 28 Posted by gretchen_zaeske on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's all foretold. I will happen. It's just a matter of time.

  • 29 Posted by gretchen_zaeske on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's all foretold. I will happen. It's just a matter of time.

  • 30 Posted by y2khd on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it's just another way that teachers are trying to use to get out of more work. Let the teachers do they're job and keep track of these children.

  • 31 Posted by darbrolyat on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    this is one of the stupidest ideas I have ever heard.

  • 32 Posted by mcintosh19 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    end times moving very fast now. get ready.

  • 33 Posted by susanbiggershorn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    Where in the bible does it say that tracking devices will be used?

  • 34 Posted by michael_marti06 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    good god, that is just another thing to prove that the UK is a socialist country... not to mention a rather upside down one

  • 35 Posted by allenjoanna21 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    Its wrong that people would just deside to do it...It sould be the parents decsion not the school....

  • 36 Posted by john_jayden on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    Do it,Im all for it. I think its a great idea.

  • 39 Posted by timari22 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Great - track kids like cattle. Just one step towards implanting chips in everyone. The more who get on the bandwagon, the worse it gets.

  • 42 Posted by my_cl_email_account on Tue Nov 6, 2007 1:07PM EST Report Abuse

    The fact that this is a fact, as opposed to something at the beginning of a Sci-Fi movie is disturbing on so many levels...it's WRONG!

  • 44 Posted by zacharyryantx on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is disgusting. I have two small children and I would never submit them to that garbage. I'll give them cell phones if need be.

  • 45 Posted by buttrfli_babi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    i say leave the kids alone they haven't done anything why are they being treated like crimanals. its not ok these kids don't even have any say they have to be tracked. these kids should not have to be tagged like crimanals or pets.

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