Hand over your data
By Teamspirit on Thursday, 27 July 2017
US tech firm Three Square Market are now offering employees the chance to be implanted with a microchip to act as a multi-purpose key, credit card and identification tool.
The RFID technology is a chip the size of a grain of rice, which can be inserted underneath the skin between the thumb and forefinger in only a matter of seconds. Once implanted, it can replace multiple devices and codes to allow for seamless movement through the office – the radio frequency emitted can validate purchases, open doors, log in to computers, unlock phones, share business cards and store health information to name just a few of its functions.
Staff have received invitations to a mass ‘chip party’ where they can sign up to be inserted with the free technology, which 50 people have already agreed to. The unusual company perk makes more sense in the context of Three Square Market’s offerings, since they sell micro market technology – meaning that this exercise is essentially product testing.
If you feel disconcerted by the thought of your employer being so integrated with your biological data, you are not alone. Although the RFID cannot record your movements or GPS like a smartphone, many have expressed privacy concerns over Three Square Market’s hand out.
The long term ambitions of the project are to standardise the technology, allowing you to use the chip as your passport, public transport access and payment authentication.
