The Rise of Under-the-Skin Surveillance: A Cautionary Look
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Chapter 1: Understanding the Trend
Under-the-skin surveillance is rapidly approaching, raising three essential inquiries regarding emerging technologies.
In late 2018, NPR reported that numerous individuals in Sweden began embedding microchips beneath their skin, allowing for cashless transactions without a credit card. British firms have initiated similar practices by micro-chipping their employees. Notably, Bill Gates is backing a remote-controlled contraceptive chip, while Indonesia has considered mandatory implantation for offenders. Additionally, Elon Musk is implanting computer chips in pigs' brains.
Recently, the Pentagon announced the development of an implant designed to detect diseases through under-the-skin monitoring of individuals. Their aim is to safeguard the public against potential outbreaks and pandemics.
In a striking departure from traditional dystopian narratives, the Pentagon's innovation resembles a "tissue-like gel" that continuously analyzes blood and transmits data, rather than a feared microchip. This scenario seems to captivate conspiracy theorists.
However, we aim for a more rational examination of the burgeoning trend of under-the-skin surveillance. Like all technologies, this one presents evident and subtle drawbacks, alongside clear advantages and a myriad of unforeseen dangers.
Avoid the extremes: do not blindly follow those who predict no downsides, nor those who dismiss any potential benefits.
Similar to the Amish community, society must deliberate whether to embrace new technologies on a global scale. Personally, I do not believe the convenience of leaving my credit card behind outweighs the risks associated with embedding a payment system in my wrist. Furthermore, I argue against the false choice that suggests there are no alternative methods for preventing pandemics, securing passwords, verifying digital identities, or accessing our vehicles.
Ultimately, my perspective is just one among billions.
To thoroughly assess the overall advantages of any innovation, we must grasp three fundamental truths about technology:
Section 1.1: Technology Is Not Neutral
It’s a common misconception that technology operates without bias.
Weapons are crafted to inflict harm, while social media platforms are engineered to capture attention and sell advertising. Nuclear technology was not invented for mundane tasks.
All technologies carry a long-term “tilt” that can be evaluated.
For instance, while a stainless steel water bottle might be misused for violence, its broader adoption likely results in less plastic waste and improved hydration for many.
Over extended periods (think: more than a century), technologies tend to lean towards either a net positive or negative impact. The pressing question is: What is the long-term inclination of under-the-skin surveillance? The answer remains ambiguous.
Section 1.2: The Agenda Behind Technology
Creators of new technologies invariably possess their own motives.
Always.
Social media is designed to foster addiction and monetize user engagement. Agricultural seeds may be engineered to increase dependency among farmers. Streaming services encourage binge-watching.
Sometimes the goals behind technological advancement are beneficial, other times they are detrimental, misguided, or even malicious.
We must question: What drives the creators of under-the-skin surveillance technology? The answer is uncertain.
Chapter 2: The Weaponization of Technology
Even when a technology appears beneficial and its creators have good intentions, we cannot disregard the potential for malicious entities to exploit it.
Not all technologies have the same capacity for misuse. For example, gunpowder can lead to far greater destruction than paper origami.
The easier a technology is to weaponize, the higher the likelihood that those with ill intentions will exploit it.
The crucial inquiry is: How susceptible is under-the-skin surveillance to weaponization?
The answer to this is clear. Under-the-skin surveillance ranks among the most easily weaponizable technologies ever devised. It possesses the capacity to monitor and track every individual on the planet indefinitely.
Consequently, it is almost certain that powerful elites and the governments they control will weaponize under-the-skin surveillance. Within a decade, authoritarian regimes like China and North Korea will likely mandate microchipping for their citizens. In corporatocracies such as the U.K. and U.S., adoption may proceed more cautiously but will likely be framed under the guise of safety, mirroring the Pentagon's narrative.
The first video, "Will the Future Be Human? - Yuval Noah Harari," explores the ethical implications of technological advancements and their impact on humanity.
The second video features "Yuval Noah Harari: Panel Discussion on Technology and the Future of Democracy," discussing the intersection of technology, governance, and society's future.