Representations of Moscow Residents about the Functions of RFID Microchips and the Risks Associated with Their Implantation

Abstract

Microchips implanted into the body could be one of the next steps in developing technology that reflects body health indicators, identifies people, and simplifies daily tasks. The COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccination against the virus have brought the phenomenon of microchip implantation to the forefront of media and consciousness. In the article we identify opinions about the functions and risks of RFID microchips based on interviews with Moscow residents (14 in-depth interviews conducted between March and April 2022). According to empirical data, the identification function aids a person in remembering all their documents, while the storage of medical information is genuinely helpful but rarely used in daily life. While carrying out routine tasks does not seem serious to the informants, it also enables them to fully appreciate the value of the microchip. Additionally, it was discovered that while some groups of informants considered health, privacy, and hacking risks to be important, they did not find physical robbery, inequality, or religious issues to be frightening or to be particularly significant.