ETHICAL POSITION
Ethical Position
Document Utilitarian Human Rights Human Dignity
EU1 Fundamental ethical principles: precautionary
principle
Fundamental ethical principles: privacy, value conflicts, informed consent / invasion of privacy / it is essential that the worker is fully informed of any changes and given the opportunity to raise concerns /
inequality between employer and employee may lead to coercion and control
Fundamental ethical principles: human dignity, non-instrumentalisation, equity, value conflict / questioning a society in which moral considerations are given a lower priority than business or security / religious views may preclude the insertion of an implant
EU2 ICT implants can enhance physical and mental
capabilities.
Implants clearly require informed consent / data protection
The relation between bodily and psychic function is basic to our personal identity / the respect for human dignity has been the fundamental basis of EGE discussions / The inviolability of the human body is not a barrier for scientific advancements but a barrier against its misuse / “[…] the EGE makes the general point that non-medical applications of ICT implants are a potential threat to human dignity and democratic society.” / no creation of first and second rank citizens /
EU3 RFID implants make life more convenient “But in recent years we’ve seen some
more extreme monitoring methods that push at the boundaries of personal
Serious concerns over issues related to human dignity
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privacy.” / employees might feel pressured to have a chip because of negative consequences
EU4 It is convenient / Biohacking is in the same
line as VR and blockchain and it has the potential to solve problems / open source software allows new start-ups to use new innovative ways of the hardware
In Amsterdam and Germany people are sceptic because of privacy reasons / the software of chips has evolved for more services but the hardware did not develop in the same way
Dystopian future
EU5 Customers do not store information on
their chips and the risk of data being stolen is very small
EU6 Swedish people have a deep believe in the
positive potential of technology
Carrying a microchip is more dystopian than practical
EU7 Describes the benefits of having a RFID
implant / “Implants aren’t just about giving yourself superhuman senses, they are designed to make your life easier
EU8 Swedes use the implants to make their life
easier / provide medical care in remote communities
Safety concerns about privacy
EU9 Making your life easier / convenience to use
your cards
RFID implants are the opposite of tracking and control devices because it is passive, it is the best way to maintain your personal data / the discussion that the employer chips you is not true, it is you that has the right to tell your employer to get up to speed with new technology
EU10 Not only for convenience of life but also for
monitoring your health yourself.
EU advisory commission already rings the bell on privacy concerns.
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EU11 It makes life far more convenient / health
hazards are non-existence
The invasion of privacy is per
definition not true because of the near field communications technology.
EU12 Make life easier Privacy in Sweden has been state
controlled like the sharing of personal details. RFID implants can only be used whenever it is used on a short distance with a different device making it perfectly safe.
Orwellian Nightmare
EU13 Convenience of life “
TUC (Trades Union Congress)
secretary-general Francis O’Grady
said in a statement this week new
technologies should not be allowed
to compromise a worker’s right to
privacy. Employers should negotiate
with their workforce about
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SMART REGULATION
Regulatory Modes
Document Hierarchical Community Competition Design
EU2 This field needs regulation
EU9 There is no regulation now so
we need to create a robust product now that does not need regulation
EU13 “the law needs to be
strengthened too, so that workers are better protected against excessive and intrusive surveillance.”
Regulatory Pitch
Document Moral Practical Behavioral
EU1 Unauthorised tag cloning /
Man-in-the-middle attack / unauthorised tag disabling / unauthorised tag
manipulation / Spoofing / denial of service attack
Ensuring health and safety is a responsibility for all employees / carcinogenic effects / dermal effects / effects on MRI use / effect on pharmaceuticals
Eavesdropping / traffic analysis
EU2 Surveillance is only
permitted when the legislators deems it necessary which is justifiable in a democracy
EU3 Employers get bigger
control over their workers
There is limited information of health risks
The fear around chips arises from misplaced suspicious
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EU4 “[…] the trust that Swedes have
in the system – both the state and companies.”
EU6 “[…] Swedes are more prone to
sharing their personal details because of the way the Swedish social security system is structured.”
EU7 Health risks
EU9 In 20 years the question is not
whether you are being chipped but which chip you are going to get.
EU12 Chips can cause infections of
reactions in the immune system
Regulatory Phase
Document First Phase Second Phase Feedback-loop
Regulatory Range
Document Prohibition Permission Regulatory Mix Regulatory tilt
EU3 The GDPR states that employers
are expected to conduct privacy impact assessments when they engage in processes that represent a high risk to the rights of data subjects
EU13 The government says it
doubts RFID implants will be legal.