The Ethical Citizen: Article Analysis

The machine that is the whole-body scanner has been viewed in a negative light publicly since its inception. Society generally has looked down upon the device, whether it be from people’s lack of understanding the technology, disliking the touch of a stranger or fear that one’s private parts man be exposed. However, people continue to go along with the device, each person for their different reasons.

This article identifies the then new trend of information technology also known as social networking technology. Vallor is identifying the virtue ethics of this technology first by identifying what virtue ethics is. Then Vallor views the technology through a utilitarian preconceived perspective, which is accomplished after identifying the virtue ethics of the technology. In the second part of her article, Vallor focuses on three virtues that enhance the morality of the social networking technology, including patience, honesty, and empathy.

“Right now you can buy a hammer, a pair of jeans, or a razor blade with anonymity. With RFID tags that may be a thing of the past ... Anonymity and privacy? Gone in a hailstorm of invisible communication, betrayed by your very property”(Scott Granneman).

However, when the issue of human implantation is raised, so are a host of ethical issues. Probably the scariest is the possibility that a government would require all citizens to be implanted with a chip, possibly at birth. This would naturally be a gross violation of personal rights. For one, it would

People today are enamored with the idea of having the latest, coolest technologies in their possession, and no matter what comes down the pipeline they will do whatever it takes to get their hands on it. What would someone do if they found out that there was a piece of technology that would allow them to unlock their car with the palm of their hand, and start the car with that same hand just by touching the steering wheel. How about if they could go to the bank and withdraw money from their account without ever having to pull out their debit card or any form of identification. Now how about this, someone goes to the grocery store fills their cart with everything on their shopping list, and then exits the store never having stopped at the checkout counter. This sounds like a piece of technology that people would want to get their hands on. How would people react to find out that this piece of technology is not science fiction but indeed science fact? Although the idea of putting microchip implants in human beings may have many valuable uses, the potential to make life easier, and seems like the natural progression in technological advancement it should not be taken lightly. Implanting people with microchips is undoubtedly the wrong direction in which to take the society; the implementation of microchip implants will be the catalyst that causes everyone to forgo their freedoms and right to privacy.

Paul: “Well, there goes another company in ruins. You’d think one would have luck on his side for his company after running it for half a decade.”

When you think of a chip being implanted in your skin, there is a lot of thoughts that comes cross your mind. The idea of that seems very scary an unreal. Who would have ever thought that a device can be implanted in your skin and would be able to give all your health history and other personal information about yourself. This device is called the RFID and its seems to be becoming something that the government is wanting to start implanting the RFID into human. Whether it’s a good idea or not, I don’t know, but today I’m going to go into detail to explain the pros and cons of the, as well as the ethics and legalities of the RFID.

The VeriChip human implant is a glass-encapsulated RFID microchip as small as a grain of rice that is merchandized as a method of accessing medical records in an emergency, for use as a payment device, and as a way to control access to secure facilities (Albrecht, 2008). At a glance given all the seductive yet false benefits that it promotes –such as the convenience of not having to worry about carrying or losing cash, cards and ID’s; the effortless way to activate gadgets such as cellular phones, cars, and even locks; and the much easier and faster, no-need-to-line-up transactions since waving of one’s hand would suffice—the implant without a doubt appears to be absolutely convincing, especially in this generation of vulnerable minds that

Since the beginning of WWII, radio frequency identification has been in use to track everything from nuclear missiles to lost or stolen animals. RFID technology more often known as microchips can be used in people for various reasons from saving lives in a medical emergency to finding lost or stolen people and children. This article looks at the history of the very sophisticated device as well as the transponder’s and the reader’s roles of microchip implants in humans since 1998. It explains the procedure it takes to implant a microchip under the skin and the many uses it can be used for. It briefly explains how microchips work and what to expect for the future when implants will possibly be placed in children, prisoners, employers, the elderly,

Some questions that everyone must ask about the microchip implants is, how will this technology be implemented? Will it be mandatory or a choice? Who will be in control of the device? And is it a medically sound device? The answer to the first question is a two part answer the first part being that the RFID chip is not a new concept the implementation of this device has already begun. People should be made aware that for a number of years now they have been getting the public acclimated to the idea of the microchip implants in ways such as offering them as a means to track lost pets and wandering livestock so first and foremost the primary use of the device is to track. They have since moved on to other means of utilizing the chip, they are now slowly rolling out credit and debit cards that contain the RFID chip technology, which controls the access to your funds so as said before the concept is not new it has been a work in progress.

Radio wave technology has been used since the Second World War but the first application of modern RFID technology came in 1983 when Charles A. Walton received the first patent for his ‘Portable radio frequency emitting identifier’ (US Patent Office, 1983). Since Walton’s patent, modern RFID technology has evolved at a startling rate with “approximately 1500 RFID patents issued between 1997 and 2010” (Mehrjerdi, 2010). The impact RFID has had on global commerce has been wide-spread. Many major industries have found ways to implement the technology into their business practices. Examples include but are not limited to: manufacturing, logistics and inventory control, national defense and commercial farming (FDA, 2015).

RFID tagging “Micro Chipping” is an implantable microchip that is injected under the skin. It contains and electromagnetic coil and a microchip enclosed in a glass capsule the size of a grain of rice. A veterinarian using a special syringe is currently implanting these devices in animals. This passive transponder does not need a power supply and it last for decades. The identification number, which can be matched to the owner’s name, address and phone number in a national pet database. Lost pets are scanned with hand held readers at animal shelters and returned to their owners. This technology is mostly used in Western countries for domestic type pets, like dogs, cats, birds and reptiles,

As technology advances so does the threat to our privacy as citizens, we enter into this technological world worried only with what’s new and hot and not diving deeper into how these devices are collecting data on us. One of these new devices is called a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) it’s a wireless system of both what is called tags and readers that pick up radio waves and hold information. The many uses include Inventory control, Equipment tracking, Out-of-bed detection and fall detection (FDA).

Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) is a chip that transmit data to receivers. RFID is use vastly in many areas of the health care operations. Each chips send a unique signal to where it could be located. RFID can be used for different reasons for instance; tracking pharmaceuticals inventory in a health care facility, collecting data to identify providers to ensure efficiency in care, tracking and monitoring infants while they are hospitalized and ensuring the right patient receive the proper medication and medical device. The benefits of RFID are to improve quality and decrease cost.

Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV), “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” The accounting firm of Arthur Andersen exemplified this statement completely. The firm which began in the early 1900’s as a stalwart defender of ethical behavior, by the beginning of the twenty-first century was more corrupt than anyone could imagine. The fallout from the demise of Arthur Andersen has been immense and some lasting effects can still be felt today.