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View Full Version : Parents look to microchip children


Joy0923
09-03-2002, 10:43 AM
I wonder if this would work on a cheating husband?[/b:be0e54c205] :wink:

[b:be0e54c205]LONDON, England -- Worried UK parents are asking to have tracking microchips implanted into their children following the murders of two 10-year-old girls, a cybernetics expert says.

Scientist Kevin Warwick from Reading University, west of London, says parents can keep track of their children with a tiny microchip implant in the arm or stomach.

Such a chip could prevent an abduction from becoming a murder, he says.

"A number of families have contacted me after the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman with the possibility of using an implant for their own daughter," Warwick told Reuters.

The bodies of the two friends were found in remote woodland two weeks after they went missing from their home town of Soham in eastern England on August 4.

One family, the Duvals, has offered up their 11-year-old daughter Danielle as the first guinea pig to test the electronic tag, which Warwick said he hopes to perfect sometime before Christmas.

The issue is set to become a controversial one in Britain with parents welcoming the idea, but civil liberties group expected to protest at the "big brother" possibilities of the tags being exploited either by the authorities or illegally.

Robotics scientist Warwick is a controversial figure already in Britain, gaining fame after he wired his own nervous system to a computer in an experiment he hopes will eventually give paralysed people more control over their own bodies.

"There are several options, including the possibility of using a mobile phone network to transmitting a signal and linking it to a global positioning system," he said.

The operation would involve implanting a small transmitter about one inch long into the child's arm or stomach, Warwick says.

"A potential abductor wouldn't know the child had the device and it could be switched off to sleep mode when it wasn't needed to conserve its battery," he added.

Watches that perform a similar function are already commercially available in the United States, but they can be too easily removed and discarded, Warwick said.

Danielle's mother Wendy told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "After the news of Holly and Jessica we sat down as a family and discussed what we could do... I know nothing is ever foolproof but we believe the microchip will go a long way to protecting her."

A spate of recent abductions in the United States have also put parents there on edge as they worry about their children, but Warwick believes it is for society to decide if a microchip implant is the ethical way to combat such fears.

"There are of course many more questions to be asked and I suspect there will be objections to an implant, but if the general trend in Britain is in favour of such an operation it will be ready to go by Christmas," he said. [/b:be0e54c205]

sokol
09-04-2002, 04:45 PM
Well, I say that a microchip is not a substitute for assertive parenting. I saw a report on the news where reporters went around (with the parent's consent) and offered their children candy or lured them away from safety with the story of a lost dog. 90 percent of the young ones fell for it to the chagrin of their parents who have taught them better than to accept candy or invitations from strangers. Like I said, microchips are a cop-out for poor parenting. [i:c222fe963a]A choke-chain would be less humiliating[/i:c222fe963a]. :shock:

abfabjunkie
09-04-2002, 05:41 PM
[color=red:d633bb311a][b:d633bb311a]I'm having horrible thoughts about a kidnapper actually looking for a bug under the child's skin by trying to dig it out with a knife or worse! :(
They would figure that if they found the bug and got rid of it, then they could not be found untill it was too late. :(
I don't like this idea at all. Even if the child doesn't have a bug, they could be tortured by some maniac trying to dig it out of them [i:d633bb311a]in case[/i:d633bb311a] they may have it.. [/b:d633bb311a][/color:d633bb311a]

barbie- is plastic
09-19-2002, 05:59 AM
I too saw that (or a similar)program sokol, and yes it was disgusting to see just how easy it was for the children to be lured away. I agree with the assertive parenting point of view also.
And yes Abfabjunkie, i too was picturing some sicko trying to dig out an elusive chip. :shock:
I think if people are so worried for their childrens safety, they should ensure their children are well educated in this area and make sure they're not placed in a position for this sort of thing to happen (always know where your child is, who they are with and how long they are going to be) of course that said, they still need their freedom and of course, you can't watch them 24/7 but you do need to be assertive about it rather than complacent.

FCS43
09-20-2002, 03:10 PM
What would u consider being assertive?

barbie- is plastic
09-20-2002, 06:31 PM
by "assertive" i mean, as i said before, you should know where, your child is, who they are with, what they're doing, etc. Be sure that your child is educated on the matter. I simply meant that there are alot of steps you can take towards making your kids safer as opposed to being relaxed about where they are , who they're with etc.
hope i have answered your question :)

FCS43
09-21-2002, 02:35 AM
Okay. Thanxs for ur explanation.I agree with wot u say about always knowing where ur child is and with whom.....unfortunately ,as in the Soham case ,having ur child aware of the don't talk to strangers rule and certainly don't go off with them rule wouldn't have helped.A school janitor is a trusted companion in the playground...as is a classroom assistant.Anyone connected with their school is an authority figure and should be obeyed.The vetting of anyone who is going to have such contact with a child should be more intensive...paedophiles r very clever people on the whole...I personally know of a case where a man concealed a conviction for sexually abusing a child...he became a teacher......and it was only years later after many complaints about him that any investigations took place...he was charged and many cases re him came to light...and he was jailed again.He should never have been allowed to train as a teacher never mind be allowed such a position of trust. His family of course believed he was innocent...as did my mother...such a fine upstanding member of the community!!I know for a fact it was true...he attempted to touch me....I refused to have anything to do with him again.... much to my mother's annoyance.....such a kind man offering to take me on holiday with his family.The truth of the matter is...u cannot trust anyone 100% with ur child.Risks have to be taken every day...or u smother ur child.Finding the correct balance for u to feel comfortable that u have eliminated as many risks as possible is the key. :)

barbie- is plastic
09-21-2002, 05:20 AM
[quote:58c08a2c69="barbie- is plastic"] (always know where your child is, who they are with and how long they are going to be) of course that said, they still need their freedom and of course, you can't watch them 24/7 but you do need to be assertive about it rather than complacent.[/quote:58c08a2c69] [color=indigo:58c08a2c69]fcs43 I hear what you are saying and I totally agree. As for not being able to trust anyone 100%, i know this from first hand experience also.It is so sad that it's so true. Do you feel the microchip is going too far?[/color:58c08a2c69]

FCS43
09-22-2002, 04:29 AM
Yes I think microchipping kids is going too far...I dont even have my 3 dogs microchipped......u have to risk assess each outing place where u r not going to be with ur child physically.... if u r not comfortable about it..u dont leave ur child alone.To my mind the school area of their life is the most dangerous part.....schools in the uk have tightened up security alot since the kids were shot at school in Dumblane,Scotland.U cannot enter school premises as easily as it was b4. the play grounds r prob the areas where security is lacking....there is a right of way through my 6 year old daughter's playground...ie it can never be locked up ....everyone has access to the playground....some people even walk their dogs through it when it is the kids break or lunchtime.So it would be easy for some pervert to make friends in a long slow steady plan with any one of the children.Again it is risk assessment...janitors/assistants patrol the grounds....so it is as safe as it can be......although not quite safe enough if it was ur child who was enticed away in a flash.Would u microchip a child?

barbie- is plastic
09-22-2002, 06:12 AM
No i wouldn't.

Mayhem
09-22-2002, 09:49 AM
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/27214.html
I think this is a better option.

Joy0923
09-22-2002, 10:16 AM
[b:badc7f4112]I agree Mayhem. I like that idea better!
[/b:badc7f4112]

FCS43
09-22-2002, 11:28 AM
Yes that is a much better option.

Mayhem
09-23-2002, 08:19 AM
Also, kids are more likley to want to wear it, than have something injected into them.

FCS43
09-23-2002, 09:29 AM
There is a problem with a tracking system.......how long would a sicko keep clothes on a kidnapped child...??

barbie- is plastic
09-25-2002, 01:19 AM
Good point.Although At least the child may be able to activate the alert beforehand, giving some information as to where they are or have been, a little info in this situation has got to be better than none. :)

FCS43
09-25-2002, 04:31 AM
Suppose so. :lol: