It might seem like something out of a dystopian science fiction film, but the reality of personal microchipping is already here. Currently, there are two noteworthy firms that offer the service in Europe: UK based BioTeq, and Swedish firm Biohax. Both offer the option to implant small microchips into the human body, around the size of a single grain of rice, which can then be used to automatically open doors, start cars, or store important data.These kinds of chips are already available for pets. Owners use them to keep track of their animals, even if they run off or get lost. The idea then, that employees could be implanted with similar chips, that could be used to potentially follow their every move, has caused an understandable uproar among both unions and business groups.
The Tech
The tiny microchips are implanted between the thumb and forefinger. They use NFC (near field communications) or RFID (radio frequency identification) technology to allow the user to operate or interact with a number of devices with the wave of a hand. This is the same technology used by mobile devices and some credit cards.
Chips are contained in a safe epoxy resin which is harmless to the human body. They’re also field powered, which means they only activate when they get near to a reader device. The implant then sends and receives data using a magnetic field. Biohax, the company is currently in talks with UK companies, uses NFC only chips.
Regardless of the type of chip used, however, the transmission and receiving range is extremely limited. This, coupled with the fact that the chips are unpowered until they enter the range of a reader device means that even if unscrupulous employers wanted to track the movement of their implanted employees, they wouldn’t be able to do so with the current technology. One security researcher commented that when it comes to transmission and receiving range of the devices: “You’re lucky if it’s anything beyond a foot at maximum. In reality, functionally, you must touch it to the device to get a read.”.
Implant Uses
The controversy caused by the chips comes after Biohax announced it was in talks with a number of leading financial and legal firms in the UK. In response, a number of major UK accountancy firms including KPMG, and Ernst & Young, have clearly stated that they have no plans whatsoever to microchip their employees. Price Waterhouse Cooper also made a similar statement. The real question is, of course, what do the interested companies hope to gain using microchipping?
Given the short range of the technology, it really only has a few practical uses. One US company that’s planning to adopt microchipping in the workplace, Three Square Market, has offered an optional scheme to employees. The implants will allow them to open doors, use the photocopier, login to computers, and even pay for snacks in the canteen – fairly mundane tasks.
The Chief Executive of the company, Todd Westby, is confident that these implants will be extremely common in the future however, saying that: “this technology will become standardised”, replacing the need for physical passports or even credit and debit cards.
According to Jowan Österlund, the founder of Biohax, the chips could also help large companies protect important information.
“These companies have sensitive documents they are dealing with. [The chips] would allow them to set restrictions for whoever.”, he said.
It could also reduce the need for physical passes, saving companies money depending on how many employees were chipped, Österlund suggested.
In Sweden, one of the country’s train providers already works with Biohax to offer customers an alternative way to pay and travel, using microchip implants instead of traditional methods. According to Biohax, there are around 4,000 people using the chips sold by them overall, although most of these are in Sweden.
Security and Privacy Concerns
The TUC and CBI, and organisation which represents 190,000 businesses across the UK, have both mirrored the sentiments from a number of firms, strongly condemned any potential moves by employers to introduce microchipping for staff.
The CBI commentedt: “While technology is changing the way we work, this makes for distinctly uncomfortable reading. Firms should be concentrating on rather more immediate priorities and focusing on engaging their employees.”.
The TUC echoed this sentiment, with General Secretary Frances O’Grady stating that: “We know workers are already concerned that some employers are using tech to control and micromanage, whittling away their staff’s right to privacy. Microchipping would give bosses even more power and control over their workers. There are obvious risks involved, and employers must not brush them aside, or pressure staff into being chipped.”.
Additionally, despite the fact that biometrics are often touted as being highly secure, security researchers and independent hackers have been quick to find loopholes or workarounds in many cases. One hacking group in Germany, for example, managed to spoof a samsung phone iris scanner using only a photo and contact lens. There’s no doubt that similar vulnerabilities could be discovered for microchips. Regardless, the large scale uptake of any such scheme by employers in the UK seems extremely unlikely given current perceptions and concerns.
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