Are we heading for a chipped future?

Ages ago, when my first TV movie was released, friends of my wife worried. A guy writing such a dark story, clearly had to have a dark mind! In truth, I'm of a very bright disposition ... and I believe part of that is because do I explore darker things in my stories ... in this post, I'll dive into the topic of privacy ... and just how dystopian this could go.

Desperate times, desperate measures. Right now, COVID-19 times, things are happening that would have seemed inconceivable even just a few months ago. I'm actually surprised and heartened by just how well - calmly and decisively - some governments handle the situation. I'm equally glad to see just how citizens are coping, adhering to restrictions and, at the same time, supporting each other in many ways. Much is being done to contain the virus and bring down those damned curves - and much is talked about. Wouldn't it be great if we could track and trace people? All in the interest of containing the virus, of course!

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, the saying goes. As governments think about using everyone's cell phone data to manage the crisis, the questions are asked by the Yuval Noah Harari's of the world - just because you can, should you?

Harari does point out something our past has shown us - in difficult times we choose and decide on things that would normally be debated for years before any decision. When we do something (even with the best of intentions) in difficult times, it can be hard to reverse it once a situation has gone back to normal. In our hyper-technology times, I'd even say its likely the toothpaste analogy - once you've squeezed it out of the tube, you won't be able to squeeze it back in. But I'd like to take it a step further than just mass surveillance capabilities by the use of our cell phones ... I'm thinking about chipping - all of humanity. 

The refugee situation in the Mediterranean Sea still ongoing - there was a dramatic spike in 2015 and I remember thinking about - and worrying about - chipping at the time. I thought, what if a government were to say to a refugee: "Yes, you can come into the country, you just have to get this chip embedded under your skin." A horrible idea, of course - but imagine how many refugees would agree to be chipped if that meant a chance of a better life. Imagine the same thing now. What if a country were to say: "We need everyone to be chipped so that we can monitor, track and trace - don't worry, the chips under your skin will be removed once the crisis is over." Or, even stronger - imagine if a government were to say: "We have a chip that, once embedded under your skin, can tell you real-time, all the time, whether you're safe. The moment the chip is in, you can go back to your old life." ... forget the technicalities - just imagine, if such a chip existed - how many people would voluntarily want to get chipped? 

Now, whether you're thinking in terms of totalitarian government or the global economy - keeping permanent tabs on everyone would be seen as a wonderful thing by them. Global consumerism would love it - and, here's the thing, so would consumers. I'm convinced that this will happen over time. Right now it's our cell phones and we're extremely casual in giving away just about every bit of data we keep generating by the second. Next it'll be chipping other materials (such as our clothes) and we'll increasingly use chips ON our skin ... the third stage (and some of it is already happening) will be UNDER the skin. Some will scream and shout at the idea, but over time consumerism and our constant praying at the altar of convenience will lead the majority to take being chipped for granted. Stores will recognize us the moment we walk in, offering us the right deals and sizes. Payments will happen automatically when we leave. Everything will be 100% personalized. No more badges, no more credit cards, no more boarding passes, no more tickets - what's not to like, right? It's all in the chip, all automated, it all just seamlessly happens ... convenience.

Last year I did a snap poll on this topic and asked "Will implanted chips in human beings be the norm by 2050?" 50% said yes. If you look at how humanity embraces everything that is convenient (and doesn't think twice about giving away bits of privacy/data left and right), then it can only been seen as very likely that being chipped is part of our future. I used to think in terms of 2050 - or even 2100 ... but, to come back to the beginning, desperate times, desperate measures. If now, or a year from now, someone were to come along with a chipped solution to the problem, I think that a lot of people would go for it. For their peace of mind, for the removal of constant uncertainty, for a feeling of safety for themselves and their loved ones ... you name it. 

Will chipping happen? No doubt on my mind. Will it be used for good or bad? Both. Can we have a say in this? Absolutely - but we need time and reflection to get this right. To end on a slightly more positive note - I see our chipped humanity as one that a) gets maximum convenience from being chipped and b) gets paid for every bit of data that flows from device to device and is used by companies. Every chip will be a revenue stream (by the way, that's another way they'll get people to WANT to be chipped: "Hey, earn free money - all you have to do is embed this chip!") for every individual. And maximum convenience will of course mean that we'll also be able to make use of that data ... while we'll be entirely known by the system, we'll also feel comfortable and safe and earn with every breath we take ...

This scenario is one that can take humanity by storm - or by virus - pick your extreme circumstance. In such times there's clearly not enough reflection. Philosophers are swiped aside - no time for this now. We must decide, we must act ... in a way, the toothpaste is already out of the tube. It just hasn't been turned into the chip just yet ... it's high time we figure out how we want a chipped world to function.