The Final Chip

It was another weekly MUN session. The topic: privacy versus gathering of data in the digital age. I immersed myself in the topic. As a millennial, I personally believed that the extent of technology we should travel and explore is very wide. I saw no problem with my data being collected and used to benefit humankind. Whether it be to increase the lifespan or stop the passing of genetic diseases through the generations, I was in favor of doing everything possible. I reasoned that counter to the opposing oblivious opinions, we would only be numbers on a chart, still very private. Furthermore, I’d go on to argue that not being in favor of this shows selfishness. Why not improve when given the chance? What right do we have to stop the expansion or slow the exponential growth rate humans are currently experiencing? 

Fully believing such thoughts led me to what I called “The Final Chip.” I introduced the concept of a digital chip being surgically inserted into every human’s left wrist. This chip would calculate and monitor our overall dietary needs thus helping us stay healthy and fit. It would solve eating disorders by either signaling the brain to stop craving food or, if we refuse to eat, slow our metabolism resulting in a smaller quantity of calories burnt. Furthermore, this can can track the quantity of physical activities we execute and slightly electrocute our wrist until we get moving or, for someone obsessed with exercise, reduce her or his energy to the point where they can’t workout anymore. Moreover, it will be programmed to track our heart rate including the hours and different stages of our sleep. It would even abolish the need to prescribe any pills or medication. 

This Final Chip would allow us to enter a new age, one in which we can fully exploit the potential God gave us. It would allow us to focus on any other areas of expertise that we could improve in. Eliminating the worries previously occupying a large portion of many of our minds would reduce our stress and enhance opportunities. It would lead to more leisure time- time wisely spent with the ones we hold close and deer. 

After seeing the overwhelmed emotions as my fellow delegates’ eyes opened to the possibilities of the future, I decided to publish the Final Chip online. The following morning, I woke to millions of retweets, hundreds of thousands of follow requests, and, most importantly, a text message from The Circle, which just happens to be the most advanced tech company in the world. I was invited to visit their facilities and talk to one of their top leaders, Mr. Kosh. One thing led to another and there I was, being offered a job at the mere age of fifteen. I would be exempt from serving in the IDF, leave high school, and immediately begin pursuing the implementation of this hypothetical chip. 

“Swedish Workers Implanted with Microchips to Replace Cash Cards and ID Passes.”Swedish Workers Implanted with Microchips to Replace Cash Cards and ID Passes, Independent , 6 Apr. 2017, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sweden-workers-microchip-implant-cash-card-id-pass-replace-employee-hand-epicenter-rice-grain-size-a7670551.html.

I left everything behind; my family, my friends, all the other goals and dreams I ever had, they all vanished. I kept telling myself I would go back to the real world once I created this damn chip. Everything I was currently doing wrong, whether it was gaining ten kilos or my lack of sleep, would be fixed by the chip once I managed to perfect it. Thousands of workers were put under my control. Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk were working on the Final Chip alongside me. Finally, it was done. It hit the market and the world went crazy. Before I knew it, countries were passing laws in order to require the few people who didn’t see the genius in this to have the chip forcibly inserted into their bodies. The result was astonishing; the Final Chip improved society in ways none of us had ever dared to dream of. The majority of the population, who used to be overweight, was cured from their obesity and saved from the eating disorders from which they previously suffered.

Unfortunately, by this time, I had lost contact with the outside world and my parents had passed away. I didn’t have the proper time to grieve or even truly process this information though because Mr. Kosh suggested taking the Final Chip even further. He proposed sending the chip to enter your neurological pathways, allowing it to read your thoughts. This, he contended, would stop terrorism once and for all. Any person thinking about executing a terrorist attack or, in that manner, engaging in any type of illegal activity, would be caught. The chip would detect such thoughts and notify police forces right away. When seeing my reticence, he continued on. “Think about the potentiality! Not only will bloodshed and homicide be reduced significantly if not completely eliminated, suicide cases will cease to exist! All those people who are too fearful to get help won’t need to deal with that anymore. This chip would automatically contact life-saving agencies!” How could I argue with that? I reluctantly got on board.

The program was developed and, with less than 24 hours remaining, it would be implemented into chips worldwide. By now, my idea had been erroneously manipulated. I started panicking; multiple thoughts ran through my mind regarding the ideas of basic human rights and how the Final Chip was, is, violating them. I then realized that these thoughts would soon be accessible, which resulted in me having a panic attack. The Circle had taken The Final Chip too far. This piece of plastic now had my identity; it was me without me.

I’m confessing; I sabotaged the chip. I hacked the code and destroyed every chip manufactured. I didn’t want the government to know every thought that crossed my or anyone else’s mind. The typical argument is that if I have nothing to hide I shouldn’t be worried. Nevertheless, I am concerned. Who has access to all this information? Moreover, what would they do with it? This has crossed crucial boundaries of privacy. But I guess I was, am, wrong. I have been sent to think about my actions and how narrow-minded I am. And that’s what I’m doing, will be doing for the rest of my life, lying here in this rotten cell.