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posted by takyon on Friday July 24 2015, @06:15PM   Printer-friendly
from the next-level-sterilization dept.

[A] report noted that the chip is expected to remain viable for at least 16 years once implanted.

While the "target" population is poor, third-world women, such technology is, of course, ripe for abuse. After all, think about it: If that demographic is the primary target, why would the chips need to be encrypted? How many third-world populations have within their midst the technological capability or the power to resist?

When he began Microsoft, Bill Gates likely never thought he'd become rich enough to hold the power of life in his hands. Talk about your "evil corporations."

The sourced article says that the encryption is meant to prevent hackers or cybercriminals from accessing the device. Robert Langer says the chips could hit the market in 2018.

Additionally: This amazing remote-controlled contraceptive microchip you implant under your skin is the future of medicine [Washington Post] (July 17, 2014)


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  • (Score: 2) by Immerman on Saturday July 25 2015, @04:42AM

    by Immerman (3985) on Saturday July 25 2015, @04:42AM (#213421)

    Agreed. I would bet good money that these could be "deactivated" by means of a simple, straight-forward surgical removal that could be performed by any competent crone with a sharp stick, and at considerably less risk than the same crone could perform an abortion with a coathanger.

    As for encryption - I would say it's *absolutely* necessary, otherwise talk about the life-changing trolling that could be done! Especially if, like some hormonal treatments, it completely suppresses many women's periods so they'd get minimal early warning. The real challenge will be in keeping the keys secure. Even if only major hospitals, or perhaps a handful of traveling clinics, have access to the keys I really don't see the problem. If you're planning to have a child then the cost of getting your implant deactivated should be trivial in comparison. Especially since it should amount to scarcely more effort than scanning an RFID tag.

    I mean really, we already have implant-based birth control, the differences as I see them are that this implant:
    - lasts ~16 years instead of ~3
    - can be turned on and off without surgery
    - can possibly be easily fine-tuned to individual's physiology (body mass, hormone resistance, etc) while using only a single mass-produced model of implant in order to minimize side effects
    - can potentially be hacked to cause unwanted pregnancy or "spontaneous" abortion/birth defects.

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