California Senate Nixes ID Implants for Workers

The California state Senate, anticipating a worst-case employment scenario that would make George Orwell and Karl Marx spin in their graves, passed a bill Thursday that prohibits employers from requiring that their workers be tagged with an implanted identification device similar to the kind that has become popular among pet owners to ID their lost animals.

Los Angeles Times:

The devices, as small as a grain of rice, can be used by employers to identify workers. A scanner passing over a body part implanted with one can instantly identify the person.

“RFID is a minor miracle, with all sorts of good uses,” [state Sen. Joe] Simitian said. “But we shouldn’t condone forced ‘tagging’ of humans. It’s the ultimate invasion of privacy.”

Simitian said he fears that the devices could be compromised by persons with unauthorized scanners, facilitating identity theft and improper tracking and surveillance.

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Amal Graafstra / amal.net

Hands off:  California senators don’t think RFID chip implants (shown above in this scan) should be required by employers.