Personal ID Chips Could be Dangerous

Intro: The House Privacy Committee heard a bill Tuesday that will make it illegal to force someone to have a personal identification chip put under their skin.

Lauren Mickler (MIKE-ler) has more from Jefferson City.

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The House Privacy Committee heard about pros and cons of personal ID devices from their own committee chair.

The testimony came for a bill that would only allow implanting the chips if you want them there.

Committee Chair and bill sponsor Republican Representative Jim Guest, says the chips could do more harm than good.

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Description: "We're not totally sure about the health effects of when it's implanted but we know that there has been tumors, cancerous tumors developing in lab animals and pets, so we think it's a concern."

Guest says the chips are best used when trying to find a kidnapped child or other missing people.

No one testified against the measure and the committee made no action.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Lauren Mickler.

Intro: Missouri law makers debated Tuesday over a bill that will keep someone from forcing a micro-chip under your skin.

Lauren Mickler (MIKE-ler) has more from Jefferson City.

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An R-F-I-D is a radio-frequency device implanted into the skin to help find lost kids, or a missing person, but Representative Jim Guest says there could be serious side effects.

The Northwest Missouri Republican told the House Privacy Committee the ID's cause cancer, and there are safer ways to get the same results without putting the device in your body.

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Description: "If you want this real small, RFID, which can be really small. I say you can put it in a bracelet and put it around their ankle or around their arm, ans it cannot be taken off."

One committee member said the bill needs fine tuning before it could be considered again.

No one spoke against the bill and the committee took no action.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Lauren Mickler.

Intro: A bill heard in the Missouri House Tuesday could outlaw identification micro-chips under your skin, but one committee member says the bill has a long way to go.

Lauren Mickler (MIKE-ler) has more from Jefferson City.

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An R-F-I-D is an identification device. It can be a micro-chip under your skin or in the ink of a tattoo, and are often used to help find missing people.

Representative Jim Guest sponsors a measure which would outlaw someone like an employer forcing you to get one.

Democrat Mike Talboy said the bill needs more work.

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Description: "I don't think that being able to implant people with chips against their will is necessarily a good idea, however... that said, there need to be some protections put into this bill and significant redrafting of the bill needs to take place before it's ready to go anywhere."

Guest said he strongly opposes putting ID chips in the elderly or mentally ill if they don't want them.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Lauren Mickler.