Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags sound like a something out of science fiction. A tag, about the size of a piece of rice, can be injected under a human being’s skin (“subcutaneous insertion”). A scanner can be used to “read” the tag and learn information about the bearer. Information contained on the tag can include address and medical history, and its availability could literally be a lifesaver, if used to identify a lost child or retrieve the medical history of an unconscious person. Tags can also be used for less important tasks, too: An anecdotal search of the Internet found that patrons in certain Rotterdam and Barcelona bars have had RFID tags placed under their skin so they can enter VIP rooms and run tabs.
