The dark side of pervasive computing

And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. —Rev. 13:16–18 P hilosophers and ethics professors worry about pervasive computing. They worry about possible infringements on privacy and liberty. But others have far greater fears, such as the coming of the Antichrist and the terrible End of Days. They worry about the " mark of the beast. " Today, a strong contingent of fundamentalist Christians contends that the " mark " will be delivered by Applied Digital Solutions, a Florida company that hopes to market its implantable VeriChip identity chip. While this fear might be extreme , there are many experts in the computer ethics world with serious questions about pervasive computing. The hot-button issues are privacy and freedom: What will be known about us in days to come, and how will that information be used? Other issues are at play that are more abstract perhaps, but no less significant. Once our machines are literally under our skin, some wonder, do we become something other than human? GOOD INTENTIONS Even those who question the long-term ethical implications of pervasive devices are quick to recognize the generally positive intentions of those who design and market them. Take, for instance, the VeriChip. Its makers claim a range of potential benefits. As a unique identifier, the chip can help control access to physical structures , reduce financial fraud such as ATM usage, and generally reduce the frequency of the identity-theft phenomenon. This assumes, however, that everything goes as planned. " As an individual user, I don't have a problem with pervasive computing. I think it adds value to my life, " says IEEE member Naresh Lakhanpal, who heads up the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Group at consulting firm Deloitte & Touche. " Where you cross the line is when you start doing things beyond what I have agreed to. " This isn't merely a theoretical possibility, something that could happen with future devices. In fact, plenty of today's pervasive applications could present potential threats to privacy and liberty. For example, the " EZ Pass " is a device used on the East Coast. Mounted on a dashboard, the EZ Pass …