In this blog post, we will look at the convenience and potential risks that berry chips will bring, and consider how far we can go with them.
In recent years, the importance of personal information has increased exponentially in our society. With the rapid transition to an information-based society, personal information has become more than just a means of identification, but has also become a social and economic value. In the world we live in today, we can choose only what is right for us from the overwhelming amount of information and make it our own. We use this information to form our own identity and express it in various ways. For example, you can share your interests on social media and express your individuality. This creates your own identity, which leads to the formation of personal information.
Unlike in the past, the formation of such personal information is done in a much more complex and sophisticated way. In the past, personal information was stored in resident registration cards, public certificates, credit cards, etc. However, today, location information, internet usage records, and even health status are easily collected through digital devices such as smartphones. Such information is analyzed by companies and government agencies and used for customized services or policies. But what if all of these were integrated into a single tool?
The Verification Chip is an embodiment of this imagination in reality. This chip is a computer chip introduced by the American company Applied Digital Solutions (ADS) in 2002. With a length of 12 millimeters and a width of 2.1 millimeters, it can be easily implanted under the skin through a syringe. The berry chip consists of a silicon memory and a wireless transceiver. Therefore, the information stored in the chip can be read by a scanner and transmitted to the outside. The berry chip is expected to have a lifespan of about 20 years. The information contained in the chip contains genetic information or a unique number that can be used to identify an individual. Therefore, all personal information can be verified as soon as it is connected to an external database that stores personal information. Personal information, financial transaction information, biometric information, and medical information can be identified with a single scan. In addition, the location of an individual can be tracked when connected to GPS.
Berry chips not only provide the convenience of everyday life, but can also be used in emergency or criminal situations. In May 2002, the Jacobs family in Florida, USA, became the first to implant a berry chip. The family decided to implant the berry chip because the father almost lost his life when he was unable to explain his condition to the doctors after being involved in a car accident. When treating patients who have difficulty communicating, the berry chip can be used to obtain their vital information and medical records, which will enable faster treatment and surgery. In addition, the berry chip can play an important role in large-scale disasters such as natural disasters and terrorism. If the location of the victims can be quickly identified and their health status monitored in real time, the rescue and treatment process will be much more efficient.
In the case of kidnapping or abduction, the chances of rescuing the victim drop significantly if the golden time is missed. However, if the victim has a VeriChip implanted, the victim can be quickly rescued because the victim’s location can be tracked using GPS. It also helps prevent repeat crimes by ex-convicts. The company behind the berry chip is using its practicality in protecting children from kidnapping and managing criminals in its promotional efforts. Such technology can play an important role not only in crime prevention but also in natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
However, there is an ongoing debate about the pros and cons of berry chips, which have these advantages. Why is there such a debate? The reason is, paradoxically, related to the advantages of berry chips. Medical records and automatic payment functions, which used to be found out with a single scan, mean that anyone can find out all of an individual’s important information by simply scanning the berry chip embedded in the body of another person. The information leaked in this way is used by each individual as a means of comparing themselves to others, which leads to discrimination. The tracking of crimes and missing persons, which was prevented using GPS, is transformed into a means of tracking individuals’ movements and invading their privacy. For example, the leakage of personal information at work can expose workers’ personal information, health status, and even private life.
To understand the problem of leakage of private information, consider an insurance company. When an insurance company wants to contract a health insurance policy, it investigates the health records and past medical history of the person to decide whether to contract the policy or to determine the insurance premium. In this way, the human genome map has been completed. Therefore, it is possible to find out the probability of an individual getting cancer through genetic information. If berry chips are required to contain genetic information, companies like the agency will analyze the genetic information to determine whether to hire an individual. If personal records are collected on servers owned by non-profit organizations and other entities rather than government agencies, the daily lives of individuals will be under constant surveillance. This will lead to the emergence of a continuous surveillance system. Moreover, such surveillance has the potential to seriously infringe on individual freedom. This could lead to serious problems that could threaten the foundation of liberal democracy.
However, while the debate over the aforementioned VeriChip continues, biometric chips will be needed for crime prevention and individual well-being. In recent years, violent crimes have become more frequent in South Korea, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to raise children with peace of mind. Currently, only sexual assault offenders are required to wear electronic ankle bracelets, and the addresses of sex offenders are disclosed to people who live within a certain distance of them. However, if we use a berry chip, we will be able to prevent crimes in advance by tracking the location and movements of people who have committed a certain level of crime. And if we install a berry chip in a child, we will be able to find out where the child is even if he or she disappears as is the case now. Also, if we aim for a society without discrimination, we can use the VeriChip to allow people with disabilities to receive medical care without feeling burdened. In most emergency situations, patients are unable to describe their condition. Preoperative tests must be performed to determine the surgical site, and the patient’s condition will inevitably worsen during this test. However, if the VeriChip is used, the patient’s life can be saved without missing the golden time. Furthermore, a national database using biometric chips could be established to create an integrated system for crime prevention and social welfare. This would ultimately strengthen the social safety net and contribute greatly to reducing the crime rate.
So far, we have learned about the characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and reasons for using berry chips. Although berry chips may pose a risk of invading personal privacy, individuals should be able to check the history of their berry chips being scanned. In addition, the government can minimize the leakage of personal information by allowing only government-approved agencies to possess scanners. If we use berry chips in this way while minimizing their disadvantages, our society will become a better place to live. Of course, this will require not only technological development but also discussions from legal and ethical perspectives and the establishment of institutional mechanisms. Social consensus is needed so that berry chips can be used not only as a technological innovation but also to guarantee human dignity and rights.
