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Want to Eradicate Stolen or Mistaken Identity? Writer Says Imprint a Code on 'Everyone at Birth

Want to Eradicate Stolen or Mistaken Identity? Writer Says Imprint a Code on 'Everyone at Birth

"...I would insist on every individual having a unique ID permanently attached..."

As BBC explains it, everyone has an idea that they think will change the world. It provides some with a forum -- however short -- to share these ideas.

Most recently, Elizabeth Moon -- a science fiction writer who says she's a former Marine -- was on the soap box. Her idea: permanent identification of identity at birth. She offers a barcode or embeddable chip as examples, although she seems open to other technologies that could do the job as well.

We all have unique finger prints, but what Moon is shooting for is something faster and instantly scannable. Many movies have already shown us how useful retinal scans can be at identifying oneself (the most recent "Mission Impossible" comes to mind).

She says:

“If I were empress of the Universe I would insist on every individual having a unique ID permanently attached - a barcode if you will; an implanted chip to provide an easy, fast inexpensive way to identify individuals.

It would be imprinted on everyone at birth. Point the scanner at someone and there it is.

Moon believes such a device would have a function at wartime to quickly identify friend from foe in hostile situations. She said there wouldn't be such a thing as mistaken or stolen identity either. She acknowledges that anonymity with such an identifier would be impossible but states that an advantage to this is that it would make "it easier to place responsibility accurately."

Moon's concept is part of a larger discussion on BBC's The Forum, which will be available on Sunday. In the broadcast, Moon and other experts discuss the implications of drones, mind-controlling devices and other technology that is changing the way wars could be fought in the future.

(Related: 'Where do you stop and the machine begin?' British report alludes to mind-controlled weapons)

Listen to BBC's 60 Second Idea here with Moon here.

What would you think of mandating personal identifying chip or barcode?

[H/T Drudge Report]

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