Here's the company, Applied Digital Solutions, denying -- just a few months ago -- that they had any such plans: "We are not now developing, nor do we have any plans to develop, anything other than an external, wearable device." http://www.politechbot.com/p-02162.html Background: http://www.politechbot.com/p-02154.html -Declan --- <http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-121901chips.story>http<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-121901chips.story>://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-121901chips.story By DAVID STREITFELD -- A Florida company is poised to become the first to sell microchips designed to be implanted into human beings, an achievement that opens the door to new systems of medical monitoring and ID screening. Implantable chips have long been discussed by technologists and denounced by those who object on religious grounds or fear their use by a totalitarian state. But the company that did the test, Applied Digital Solutions of Palm Beach, said the specter of terrorism is shifting attitudes. The direct union of man and computer is no longer dismissed out of hand. "The bottom line is, when people are trying to regain their peace of mind, they're more open to new approaches," said Keith Bolton, Applied Digital's chief technology officer. Applied Digital, which had revenue of $165 million last year, has made its mark by selling electronic chips that help farmers keep tabs on the health and safety of their cows and other livestock. The company also makes a monitoring bracelet for Alzheimer patients, so that families can use global positioning satellite systems to help find loved ones who might have wandered off. [...] --- From: "Jack Dean" <JackDeanat_private> To: "Declan McCullagh" <declanat_private> Subject: Orange County [CA] to Track Sex Criminals With GPS Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 18:04:31 -0800 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-000101626dec23.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dcalifornia Los Angeles Times December 23, 2001 O.C. to Track Sex Criminals With GPS Probation: A satellite tracking system will help monitor freed offenders around the clock. Critics say the plan smacks of Big Brother. By STUART PFEIFER, TIMES STAFF WRITER Orange County is taking what some civil libertarians consider troubling steps to keep tabs on released sex offenders, giving them periodic lie detector tests and, starting next year, requiring some to wear wristbands linked to satellite tracking systems. The county will become the first in the state, and one of only a dozen or so nationwide, to track sex offenders on parole and probation with global positioning satellites, which allow officials to pinpoint offenders' locations around the clock. Authorities said the tracking and lie detector tests represent powerful deterrents for offenders and could also tip off police to crimes the probationers might commit. "It is a controversial issue for us. But our primary concern is the protection of the community," said Bill Daniel, director of special operations for the Orange County Probation Department. [...] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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