Future Uses of RFID Technology

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology uses radio waves to transfer data between devices and is often used for tracking.

The technology uses an electronic chip which often takes the form of a label or tag and is attached to a product. The chip contains identifying information which can be accessed using a reader and this has many uses:-

- to track clothing items in a supermarket and prevent theft 

- to track the progress of an automobile on an assembley line

- to locate pharmaceuticals in a warehouse

- to identify pets or livestock (the chip is implanted under the skin)

RFID technology has many other applications including access control. The chips containing identifying data are contained within identification badges which authenticate the holder on entry. A similar system can be used for vehicles

It is used on the London Public Transport system where the chip is inserted into a card which identifies the user at each location and calculates the appropriate fare. The same cards can be preloaded with credit and used to make electronic payments. The need for cash has been eliminated and the cards will soon be compulsory 

A similar recent development has enabled adapted mobile phone to be linked to bank accounts and used in to make electronic payments. 

The first E-passports using RFID technology were issued by Malaysia in 1998 and other countries soon followed including most EU countries around 2006. An E-passport contains a chip storing a digital photograph, personal information and travel history 

Animal identification is an important uses of RFID technology and most pets have a chip implanted for easy identication . Implantable RFID chips are now starting to be used on humans e.g. VIP customers at certain nightclubs can be identified and the chips used to pay for drinks. Some hospitals in the USA have begun implanting patients with RFID chips for routine tracking and to increase efficiency

Possibly this trend will increase in the future. Implanted RFID chips on humans could be used for identification purposes and to improve heathcare efficiency nationwide. It could also be used to make electronic payments and reduce the need for cash

Maybe it will begin on a voluntary basis for those with private heath insurance and participation will be linked to benefits such as lower premiums and preferential access to services. It may lead to other benefits such as those with implanted chips getting quicker security screenings at airports. 

Where will it end? Consider some possible scenarios with no timescale included although some of these events have started to happen 

In the future, a possible major emergency caused by a terrorist attack might lead to the introduction of martial law with local chipping stations immediately deployed. They would be available as a precasution to ensure that you and your family could receive emergency rations and other vital services if required. Stockpiled RFID chips would be available for immediate use

Prisoners would be chipped first. There is no better way of tracking criminals or people on parole? Maybe, everybody receiving benefits or government healthcare would need to be chipped to prevent fraud. 

A massive propaganda campaign on TV and in the media would be needed to convince the population that any fears they have about privacy or intrusion are unfounded. 

Full implementation would soon be on the cards and could be linked to safeguarding and the protection of children because this is always an easy target. Any parent who refused to chip their child could not send them to school and would thus be an irresponsible parent. An appointment with the child protection services would be made

Chip scanning devices could be installed in major public venues. Anybody who had not been chipped would not be granted access on health and safety grounds. They would not be able to use public transport because it would be too dangerous for themselves and everybody else. All responsible citizens would need to have a chip implanted for their own safety due to the hightened terrorist threat  

In reality, an implanted RFID chip could be used to track every move you make both physical and economic. It has massive potential for mischief making in a George Orwell inspired world. Without one you would be unable to function in society. Potentially, you would be unable to travel, to work, make payments, receive healthcare or any other goverment service. You would be unable to function in society and any dissident could be excluded from the economy because cash will no longer exist. Globalisation has forced governments to act collectively and made borders irrelevant. There will be no hiding place 

This was predicted in the Book of Revelations written in 96 AD

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead. And that no man might buy or sell, save that he had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of the beast"

The prophesy predicts that people will be forced to receive a mark on their right hand or forehead. Is this an implanted RFID chip?

A Cashless Society and the Mark of the Beast

It was recently announced that cash will no longer be accepted on the London Bus system and the use of plastic cards, which can be preloaded with credit, will be insisted upon. This follows on from a similar announcement in Kenya where public transport will also go cashless and switch to an electronic system of payment.  

The move towards cashless transactions is very much an increasing trend and governments throughout the world are pushing the idea of a “cashless society” i.e. a world where all payments are made electronically. Obviously, proper records will have to be kept and these will have to be readily available to all those concerned. Important and powerful, global organizations including the UN are involved but developments along these lines could have massive implications for individual freedom and privacy.

Supporters point to an obvious reduction in overheads by removing the need to produce/secure physical cash along with possible reduction in tax evasion, armed robbery and black market fraud. Critics are wary of governments operating in a George Orwell inspired world and being able to monitor every item of economic activity.  The NSA snooping story adds weight to these claims  

The debate continues but  some governments e.g. UK and Kenya are already working hard to reduce  the reliance on cash. The end objective, which may be years down the line, can only be an eventual end to all cash transactions and a world economy based digital commerce.

It has been portrayed as a natural progression and an example was a CNN feature on 2/7/14 called “The Evolution of a Cashless Society,”  which described the progress made by various countries. The eventual introduction of a cashless society was presented as inevitable and apparently the United States is at a “tipping point” while Canada, Belgium, France, Sweden, and others are “almost cashless.” Other countries are either at the “inception” or “transitioning.” 

In reality, the “trends” are not happening naturally and big business is playing a major role. Governments are driving the cashless society developments with taxpayers money and well funded foundations are joining in to build support. For example, in September 2012 the Ford Foundation, launched the "Better Than Cash Alliance" which describes  itself as a partnership "to empower people by shifting from cash to electronic payments." The partners include big business representatives like Visa and Citibank as well as the UN 

Maybe the move towards a cashless society is a natural progresssion or part of evolution but the arguments against are not being heard. If the trend continues, it seems that all transactions will eventually take place electronically and the need for cash will be eliminated but will the technology always work? Will we need a card for the bus, a card for the train and one for each store or will a universal payment system be developed? What if the card is mislaid?

Various systems are in development and a system using a mobile phone to make payments has been used successfully. Again a mobile phone can be mislaid and what happens then?Mobile phones are routinely used as tracking devices and an increase in their use can only make this more widespread

Some organisations have advocated the use of a human micro-chip with the eventual goal of each person having a device inserted under the skin and able to use it to provide identification and to make electronic payments. 

Maybe this is the path we'll follow but there is massive potential for making mischief. Do we really want to give the government the ability to track every physical and economic move we make? In a cashless society, a political opponent could be removed from the economy and he/she wouldn't be able to buy food. A power cut would cause absolute chaos

It might be the fulfilment of prophesy. Revelations 13:17 reads 

“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name,”