Microchip Implants Spur "Mark of the Beast" Bans in 2 States
What hath PositiveID wrought: The company formerly known as VeriChip seems to be the inspiration for bills in Georgia and Virginia that would ban the mandatory implant of microchips in humans by employers or insurance companies. And the company's name is becoming increasingly associated with the "mark of the beast" mentioned in the Book of Revelation.
Backstory: PositiveID (PSID) makes implantable microchips, one of which -- Health Link -- contains a scannable code that can link to your online medical records. Christians, conservatives and privacy advocates believe the company, perhaps in conjunction with the government, will somehow find a way to require that all Americans carry an implanted chip. Some believe that such a chip would be the "mark of the beast" as prophesied in Revelation 13:16-18.
That's what one Virginia state delegate believes. The Washington Post:
Mark L. Cole (R-Fredericksburg), the bill's sponsor, said that privacy issues are the chief concern behind his attempt to criminalize the involuntary implantation of microchips. But he also said he shared concerns that the devices could someday be used as the "mark of the beast" described in the Book of Revelation.Whether you believe any of this or not -- the conspiracy theorists seem to forget that almost nobody actually wants their medical records linked to an implanted chip -- the problem for PositiveID is that it is doing nothing to counter what is, presumably, a huge amount of misinformation circulating on the web about the company.
BNET recently offered the CEO of PositiveID, Scott R. Silverman, an interview in which to rebut some of this stuff, but the company declined. You can't help those who won't help themselves, I guess.
In the meantime, here's the quote of the day:
"We've got a $4 billion hole, and we're spending time on microchips," said Del. Albert C. Pollard Jr. (D-Northumberland). "At least when Nero fiddled, they got good music."For the record: I'm not aware of any occasion on which PositiveID has ever advocated a mandatory chip program.
- Related:
- Positive ID Seeks Diabetic Guinea Pigs for Chip Implant Study
- Conservatives Spread Rumor That Healthcare Reform Mandates Microchip Implants
- PositiveID Deal Advances Use of Microchip Implants in Florida Health System
- VeriChip Buys Steel Vault, Creating Micro-Implant Health Record/Credit Score Empire
- VeriChip TV Ad Confirms Critics' Worst fears: They Want Everyone Implanted
- Microchip Implant Controversy: a Mark of the Beast or the Coming "Singularity"?
- Microchip Implant to Link Your Health Records, Credit History, Social Security
- Novartis Chip Texts Your Phone When You Need Another Pill