Some say paranoia is awareness. File this one under the Scary Shit category, next to high-resolution brain scans that can read peoples thoughts. Hitachi has developed a new RFID “powder” chip smaller than the width of a human hair at 0.15 x 0.15 mm. Using semiconductor miniaturization technology and electron beams to write data on the chip substrates, Hitachi was able to make the Radio Frequency Identification chips 64 times smaller than those currently available. The chips have a 128-bit ROM for storing a unique 38-digit ID number.

RFI chips are used to identify items they’re attached to with radio waves, and can also be used to track people. Current chips are already thin enough to be embedded into a sheet of paper. These new RFID “powder” chips could be hidden easily on items or dispersed amongst a crowd, allowing individuals to be tracked without their knowledge. The bug would never be detected and could even be inhaled.

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