I don’t believe that microchipping children appeals to many
people, as it raises the concern of breached privacy. To many, the idea that
the government could track any US citizen at their own will is of concern. In
addition to tracking, the chip would store personal information about the
individual wearing it, which could be easily obtained by somebody else. The
idea of having a microchip in the body could make somebody feel less of a human
and more of an object.
To some, however, the chip adds an extra layer of security. Having
the option to track a family member on radar and know their exact location
within minutes is a reassuring feature.
After looking closely at the idea of microchipping a human,
you begin to realize the many dangers it could pose. I believe the cons of
using a microchip outweigh the pros and here’s why.
The microchips implanted into animals can’t be tracked on radar,
but rather, needs to be scanned by a special device, in which an address of the
owner is then provided. The scanning feature of the microchip animals wear
would be of little use to humans. A satellite chip that would allow for optimal
tracking is said to be far off in the future.
If a child were to be abducted, and the pedophile were aware
of the fact that the child is wearing a microchip, they may panic and either
gouge the microchip out themselves, or just kill them.
A killer, who has the information of a child’s tracking device,
could wait until they are in a vulnerable area to abduct them.
VeriChip is one of the FDA approved implants sold within the
US, and according to lab trials has shown to induce cancer in lab rats.
I don’t believe that parents have the right to microchip
their young children or teenagers. It’s an invasion of privacy into the lives
of both, and poses the unnecessary risks listed above.
I especially believe that planting a microchip in a teenager
would be an invasion of privacy. A parent could easily misuse this feature and
begin stalking their own child, tracking their every move. The purpose of the
chip is to track their child in a time of emergency and I don’t believe many
parents would limit the use of it to just that.
I also believe that rebellious teenagers themselves would
create a huge problem. Those who feel as though their security and privacy has
been removed by these chips wouldn’t hesitate to remove it themselves.
I don’t believe the congress should ever pass a law that
requires ID chips to be placed in children under the age of 5. I believe that
privacy should be a right at any age, even if the child is young.
I believe the use of GPS shoes to track senior citizens is a
great idea. It’s one in which could provide safety and comfort to many people.
If you had an elderly parent that was just beginning to suffer from the side effects
of a disease such as Alzheimer’s, you could track their whereabouts.
I also feel as though the shoe tracker is much less invasive
than a microchip. It’s not physically placed inside of you, and can be taken
off when wanted to.
