UK now becoming a target for the microchipping craze, we assess its feasibility as a business tool

Source: Vsoft, 16/01/2019

The technology has proven so successful that some of questioning
whether microchips could work just as well in our own bodies. It`s
still a somewhat faddy concept, but people are increasingly
turning to miniature technology, whether it`s to provide an
alternative to carrying identity cards or just to realise their
cyborg fantasies. It`s not just an international craze either â€`
we`re now starting to see a swell of interest in the UK.
Swedish firm Biohax International has been implanting a passive,
near field communications (NFC) device into humans for some time
in its native land. The device is tiny â€` 2mm x 12mm â€` and it is
certified to retain data for ten years. The chips are implanted
into the hand and allow users to wave at readers in much in the
same way as a contactless bank card or security pass. The
installation process is said to be relatively painless â€` no more
or less painful than a piercing.
Now the Swedish export has made its way to the UK. Biohax has said
it is seeing interest from UK firms looking to use personal chips,
while BioTeq, one of a number of UK-based firms, has started to
offer a range of implant services from as little as £39.95.
Reports suggest around 3,000 people have so far been chipped in
Sweden, where the technology is being used in partnership with SJ
Swedish railways as an alternative to tickets, reducing waste
paper and replacing plastic travel cards. Biohax cites many other
uses including gym access, digital business cards, even starting
up the coffee machine.
Big Brother technology
While the tech could be seen as an overly invasive solution to the
problem of multiple identity cards, businesses are starting to see
the benefits of creating an `always online` workforce, creating an
opportunity to track employees through something other than the
devices they use.
Amazon has already patented a wristband that can track a worker`s
movements around its warehouse, sparking fears that detailed
monitoring of their speed and efficiency could be tracked. For
example, if companies go a step further and provide workers with
chip implants, employers could then know when workers arrive and
leave, and even how long they spend at the water cooler or in the
loo.
This is part of a much wider issue of workplace monitoring. As
Richard Edwards, service director & distinguished research analyst
at Freeform Dynamics, explained to IT Pro: `Most of us carry
around a tracking beacon when we`re at work. It`s called a mobile
phone. These could easily be used to track employees as they go
about their day.`
However, unlike a mobile phone, the chip would be constantly
operational and would be free of issues that may otherwise
interrupt the collection of data, such as a device being switched
off or running out of battery.
Trades Union Congress general secretary Frances O`Grady has
expressed concerns about chip implants, saying in a statement: `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.`
For O`Grady, the way forward is all about discussion and
diplomacy. `Employers should always discuss and agree workplace
monitoring policies with their workforces. Unions can negotiate
agreements that safeguard workers` privacy, while still making
sure the job gets done.` She added that the `law needs to change
too, so that workers are better protected against excessive and
intrusive surveillance`.
Yet another tool in 2FA
Chips currently don`t carry much data. But their capabilities will
grow, and with them so will the question of data security. `I
wouldn`t count on chips alone,` says Edwards. `Most security
conscious organisations seem to favour a multifactor approach to
authentication and security even though it can be costly to
implement and manage.`
Implant chips certainly shouldn`t be left in sole charge of the
security of the information they contain, but could be combined
with a second personal biometric such as a fingerprint or a PIN.
`We know that chips can be read and cloned, so any use would have
to be part of a multifactor approach to identity and
authentication,` says Edwards.
In the end, whether we like it or not, it seems the age of the
personal chip has arrived. The challenges we face now are similar
to those we face in other areas of technology â€` preventing misuse
and ensuring data security.
Chips bring their own special challenges too. Much like other
medical implants, there`s a need to ensure the chips themselves,
and the processes used to insert and remove them, are medically
safe.