Be Afraid: Powder-Sized RFID Chips

Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:58AM EST

See Comments (1248)

Everyone's so paranoid about the RFID chips that are already in place in so many parts of our lives, so here's an item (via Engadget and Pink Tentacle) about Hitachi's new powder-sized RFID chips to make us even more scared of Big Brother (or little-Brother-ID thief). RFID chips are tiny microchips that use radio waves to do everything from conduct credit card transactions (as on those little key-fob-Paypass MasterCard thingies) and pay for tolls (EZ Pass and its ilk) to keeping track of your devices and travel (U.S. passports). 

Hitachi plans to start marketing these new chips—seriously no bigger than a speck of dust at 0.05 x 0.05 mm—in two to three years. The company says this super-tiny chip can be used in paper, currency, gift certificates, and the like, but as some sites have pointed out, today's chips are already small enough for those uses. So, as Engadget cracked, does this mean we should be watching what we eat in case of some James-Bond-style pepper-shaker swap?

Maybe, but is the terror around RFID over-hyped? According to most proponents of the technology, and my own experiences paying with PayPass at my local drug store, you really need to physically tap the RFID chip to something for the transaction to go through. And yet, when I go through a toll booth, my RFID-enabled EZ Pass box is only about ten feet away from the sensor. So maybe it is time to watch what you eat, lest Big Brother starts to track you wirelessly (or you spill some RFID powder from which evil ID thieves can extract your vital stats!)

What do you think? Is RFID worth the convenience or is it setting up some dangerous privacy-invasion precedents?

Related links:

Is RFID On Your Radar?
 Step Right Up for Your Microchip Implant 
Getting Swiped with a No-Swipe Credit Card

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Comments on Be Afraid: Powder-Sized RFID Chips

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  • 66 Posted by fgp_frost on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    America is no longer a free country. America is all about control. They want to control you, me and any country that will let them.

  • 67 Posted by clarawest1967 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    I feel stogly aganst it because i dont want anything put in my body or my privacey invated/ I really dont want it to get where I cant buy food or gas toll or not be able to not get A paycheck whithout A chip in my body . GOD DIDN`T PUT IT IN MY BODY AND I WILL NOT LET ANYONE PUT IT THERE EATHER

  • 68 Posted by jean_adams38652 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    I AGREE WITH THE PERSON . WHAT DO YOU THINK 666 STANDS FOR? I JUST THINK IT'S ANOTHER STEP TOWARD WHAT GOD SAID WOULD HAPPEN.AND IT IS WRONG TO HAVE ANYTHING IMPLANTED IN YOU LIKE THAT IN MY OPENION.SOME THINGS SCIENTEST SHOULD LEAVE ALONE. I WILL LEAVE MY SAFTY TO JESUS CHRIST AND KEEP MY FAITH IN HIM TO TAKE CARE OF MY IDENITY.

  • 69 Posted by elizabeth_ree on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    the end is very near... you can either accept the gospel and be saved or stay here when the anti christ comes.

  • 70 Posted by max_lacosse on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's here; it's virtually undetectable-- kiss the tumescent tool of your new corporate masters!

  • 71 Posted by savzin2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    THE MORE WE AS ALL PEOPLE ALLOW FOR OUR OFFICIALS TO TIGHTEN UP THE LEASH AROUND OUR NECKS THE MORE ITS GONNA GET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 72 Posted by greer4321 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    Mark of the Beast. Implant one and your heck bound.

  • 73 Posted by krisha122003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    OMGG!! that's freaking scary. putting a chip in your body!

  • 74 Posted by sashaw98 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    Our soldiers should have these in case they get caught by the enemy.

  • 75 Posted by kogax1391 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    WTF kinda ----- is the world coming to seriously u ----- peopel and ur micro ass chips this is such bs and then they say we have our freedoms this ----- its bs if we have ----- tracking devices all around us then wtf are we suppose to do seriously i bet one ----- day one of u government ----- s are gonna be sitting there watching every movement someone makes and a ----- ign guy or girl will go to the bathroom and u mother ----- ers will think they are doing some hostile activities and end up ----- up ur ----- ass mission u people are ----- ed up as heck ----- douchebags. ----- U ----- GOVERNMENT I LOVE MY COUNTRY BUT ----- THE GOVERNMENT!!!!!!!

  • 77 Posted by sctj24@sbcglobal.net on Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:52PM EST Report Abuse

    I think it's a double edge sword... Probably good in most cases, BUT maybe to much control for a select few to have over the majority of the human population.

  • 78 Posted by nickdc1960 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    Think about this... This is only what we are being told about nanotechnology inventions. Somewhere, the governments of the world have already developed technologies beyond what is being reported in the press. But, that's the way it's always been. Nick http://www.CreditManagementWorld.com

  • 79 Posted by jeffery_reeves on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    The devil is lurking right around the corner with this technology. People are so obtuse to what is really at stake here. THEIR LIVES! If no one knows anything about the NWO, then you will become a victim of the anti-christ, that will no doubt come to pass. Watch out folks, satan is rearing his ugly head, but you just don't know it. do ya!

  • 80 Posted by coolboyatlyseth on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    Ya i agree with seasideroses95519 its all the goverment just controling us.

  • 81 Posted by tico_173 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't liked and wat happen if some one can hack the chip and used to get a person sick or even kill the person and i wouldn't want any one to know or feel liked their checking on me. I don't liked and i find just usind credict cards,but no way putting a chip inside of me.

  • 82 Posted by sometimes_y on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't see why anyone should be paranoid. So the government knows I shop at a certain grocery store, or that I go through a certain toll on my way to work each day... if the government REALLY wanted to know where I shopped and worked it wouldn't be that hard to find out, chip or no chip. I doubt the government really cares where I shop and all they want from where I work is taxes.

  • 83 Posted by aimhigh9000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think the ability to track anybody has always been there. The fear factor only increases when you hear about new and improved way's to do what already has been going on for a long time. To what extent; good question: blacklisting,overseas prisons,area 51. Myth or fact, news like this makes people Think!! WHAT IF!!!

  • 84 Posted by boomslang2004 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    About the worst thing I see happening here is the fear of the government being able to implant these things into everyone so that we can all essentially be spied on. Hopefully that won't happen; the current executive regime will be out of power, so there is a sliver of hope that the beast of "Big Brother" will be at bay for a little longer. In the long run, I think there's little to fear, save for the cybercriminals who will always exist with every new technological advancement.

  • 85 Posted by cerberil on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am against this. It is another cog in the police state that the global elitists are setting up. No one has any business knowing what I purchase or from where until I have committed some type of criminal offense. In America you are supposed to be innocent UNTIL proven guilty. Do you really want the same people who pulled off 911 having access to personal information about you?

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