Describe implanted radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. Comment on privacy implications

What will be an ideal response?

According to privacy advocates, a new threat to personal privacy may come from implanted RFID tags (Verichips). The tags are radio transmitters that give off a unique signal, which can be read by a receiver. The person with the implanted tag does not need to know it is being read. Tags have been used in pets and products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the tags for medical use. In 2006, two employees of an Ohio company had RFID tags embedded in their arms. The company said "it was testing the technology as a way of controlling access to a room."
However, Verichips are very easily counterfeited—"[Y]ou could have a chip implanted, and then your front door would unlock when your shoulder got close to the reader. Let us imagine that you did this; then, I could sit next to you on the subway, and read your chip's ID. This takes less than a second. At this point I can let myself in to your house, by replaying that ID. So now you have to change your ID; but as far as I know, you cannot do this without surgery."