RFID implants: Opportunities and challenges for identifying people

Radio frequency identification (RFID) implants of today are mainly about passive implants. Such devices are already commercialized and are specifically designed to facilitate the identification and authentication (I and A) process. The first RFID implant was the VeriChip, which stores an identification number only, and can be read from a distance of about 10cm with a handheld reader and 50cm with a door reader. Since it is a passive tag, the implants do not need batteries to operate but make use of the energy emitted by an external RFID reader. However, the lack of internal power source and small size limits the devices' performance in terms of memory, processing power, and communication range. The advantage of using them include more convenient identification and can be used by everyone. On the other hand, there are concerns about their use, like privacy risks, unauthorized replication of information, health issues especially that relates to cancer as well as the fact that it has low social acceptance.