Indonesia's Ministry of Justice plans to implant RFID microchips in rapists' ankles for tracking purposes

Indonesia's Ministry of Justice and the National Child Protection Commission are pushing for the legalization of a proposal to implant RFID microchips near the ankles of rapists. As Indonesian officials say, implanting RFID microchips will allow police to track criminals' every move. The plan, still under review, appears to be aimed at placating angry citizens while reiterating the government's commitment to fighting crime.

However, this proposal is suffering setbacks, and the microchip implant plan is regarded as unrealistic or even impossible. “It’s an absolutely ridiculous proposition,” said Amal Graafstra, a Seattle biohacker and expert on subcutaneous microchips.

Grafstra calls himself a "double RFID implanter". He has a radio frequency identification chip implanted in each hand, which allows him to log into a computer and even start a motorcycle by waving his palm. He also sells self-implantation kits online so others can be freed from passwords or keys. These radio frequency chips are about the size of a grain of rice and are the most advanced implantable devices currently on the market. But they shouldn't be confused with GPS trackers. Grafstra said that the transmission radius of RFID is limited to about 25 centimeters, and the closer the distance, the better.

"The idea of using these devices as tracking devices comes from Hollywood movies, not reality," Grafstra said. "In the real world, implanting RFID chips makes no sense." Because the signals of these implants are very weak, They can easily be covered with metal equipment purchased online, not to mention that a ruthless person can remove them directly from the flesh with a knife.

Indonesia plans to integrate microchips with GPS technology, but there are currently no similar products on the market. That could mean having huge devices embedded inside the body, including batteries and antennas. For ordinary people, it is not unacceptable to have GPS trackers implanted in the body. After all, scientists have also put tags and tracking devices on polar bears or migratory birds. But neither polar bear nor migratory bird tracking devices are implanted under the skin because that might prevent the signal from being sent out.

These tracking devices are small, weighing only about 1 gram, and are undergoing limited field testing. "The fact that the device needs to be retrieved is still a drawback," the researchers found. That said, to know the exact location of a chipped animal, you still need to download the data through the physical chip, just like the tag.

Indonesia has previously proposed the idea of implanting microchips for special groups of people. In 2008, a member of Congress proposed microchip implantation for AIDS patients in Papua, one of the poorest areas in the country. The plan's biggest backer, physician and congressman John Manansang, advocates that AIDS patients could be tracked like birds and animals, with chips sending signals when infected blood comes into contact with infected blood. Monitor the spread. This plan failed to materialize.

Now, although Indonesian officials have proposed implanting microchips in criminals, a similar concept still seems unfeasible. The Indonesian government is considering equipping criminals with RFID devices, an idea that could become a reality. In the United States, RFID devices are also used to track inmates in prisons, but they are worn on the ankles rather than implanted in the body. In fact, if it wanted to, Indonesia could choose to track criminals using a device already worn by 200,000 prisoners in the United States: clumsy plastic ankle monitors.