Do you agree with tracking kids via implant chip?

There has been a spate of attempted and successful kidnapping in my small town recently and I started this debate with my peers - just wanted to see what the opinions on here were.

As a father of 2 young children (3 and 7) I would opt to have it done in a heartbeat. As far as I can tell any negative points are far outweighed by the benefits.

We spoke about GPS trackers which you can get commercially now, but the issue is they are portable and can be discarded/lost/forgotten about in day to day life, which would render them useless.

The next step was small implants. Nothing like this exists that I am aware of (at least to the general public). The stipulation was the parent/guardian(s) would have sole control over the device until X age when the then-teen could opt to have it turned off / removed if they wished.

So, would you or wouldn't you? If not, why?

[Messie]

Absolutely not, never, no way, not in a million years!

It is a total infringement on their rights as human beings, however little (as human beings) they may be.

It is our responsibility, no duty, to protect them from harm; it is not our right to treat them like animals. It is our responsibility as a society to ensure they are all in a safe environment. Tagging them or branding them with identities if you like, as someone's property, is not the answer and maybe reminiscent of earlier times.

I started writing a whole essay in answer to your question, but gave up. My feelings against it are so strong that it wouldn't be a considered answer.

[Geodude]

If they were 'chipped' the evil part of society would quickly find a way round it sadly.

Maybe we should wrap every child up in bubble wrap as being knocked down poses a far greater risk to children than someone snatching them. Seriously though **** happens, if we were to protect everyone against everything the life would be pointless.

I do see your point (and this is not going to be a flame thread) - reality is its not even an option so I just wanted opinions so to speak, see if there is anything I am missing.

Sal, I get where you're coming from, and that is the one thing that has cropped up over and over again - human rights and big brother type society.

I also whole heartedly agree -it is our duties as parents to watch our kids and ensure a safe environment.

But sometimes it really does feel out of our control.

For instance, yesterday the school sent out letters warning parents that 2 men in a white transit van have been repeatedly reported to have tried luring children in. Not long ago there were several incidents of similar happenings to kids playing outside their own houses.

There is current uprage that the local plod haven't made an appearance even as a deterrent outside said school.

So, while we can do our best to keep eye to our kids, reality is short of stalking them every waking hour, sometimes they are out of sight (literally) where these evils may befall them.

Maybe my judgement is clouded by emotion but the thought of someone taking my kids is right up there with the worst things that could ever happen. If I knew I could if need be, track their location, why should I not be allowed to? Is that selfish? Is this intrusion of privacy not worth it for the sake of being able to save my child should it happen?

Originally Posted by grimey121uk

Maybe we should wrap every child up in bubble wrap as being knocked down poses a far greater risk to children than someone snatching them. Seriously though **** happens, if we were to protect everyone against everything the life would be pointless.

This is not wrapping them up in cotton wool imo. Not letting them play out in case they get hurt, that is.

This allows them normal freedom, with the added security that should something bad happen, chances of recovery is much greater.

We arent talking about a cut on the knee - this is abduction, seriously life threatening.

There are elderly with certain diseases which have trackers attached in case they go wandering. Already out and in use today.

Is this also wrong then?

[andrewsmith]

No no no!!

Ever read 1984?

Originally Posted by hongman

This is not wrapping them up in cotton wool imo. Not letting them play out in case they get hurt, that is.

This allows them normal freedom, with the added security that should something bad happen, chances of recovery is much greater.


We arent talking about a cut on the knee - this is abduction, seriously life threatening.

There are elderly with certain diseases which have trackers attached in case they go wandering. Already out and in use today.

Is this also wrong then?

You did ask for opinions so I presented mine.
In this situation I would wait outside the school and give these guys a good kick in.

Kids being run over is also life threatening and pretty common so the solution to save a few lives would be to not allow the remaining 10 million children play out!

[Sid Squid]

In the event of an abduction I suspect the only thing an implanted tracker guarantees is an injury from a home surgery attempt at removal, or possibly several if it can't be located immediately, plus maybe gangrene or perhaps bleeding to death, anyway I don't think a hospital visit will be on the kidnappers agenda.

One downside of mass media is the erroneous sense that rare occurrences are commonplace, and that extreme circumstances are realistic fears. We've never lived in safer times and as a society we've never been more paranoid.

[Messie]

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

In the event of an abduction I suspect the only thing an implanted tracker guarantees is an injury from a home surgery attempt at removal, or possibly several if it can't be located immediately, plus maybe gangrene or perhaps bleeding to death, anyway I don't think a hospital visit will be on the kidnappers agenda.

One downside of mass media is the erroneous sense that rare occurrences are commonplace, and that extreme circumstances are realistic fears. We've never lived in safer times and as a society we've never been more paranoid.

Totally agree with both points.

In addition it is our responsibility as parents/guardians etc to teach our children the skills that are necessary to keep themselves as far as possible out of danger. Even very young kids can learn that going off with strangers is the wrong thing to do.
If we've chipped our kids then it's something else to blame if something goes wrong.