Plans to microchip UK workers spark privacy concerns

'Microchipping would give bosses even more power and control over their workers,' a TUC spokesperson said

The prospect of UK firms implanting their staff with microchips in order to improve security and efficiency has raised concerns among trade unions.

Several legal and financial firms in the UK are reportedly in discussions with a company responsible for fitting thousands of people with chips in Scandinavia.

The chips, which are about the size of a grain of rice, are usually implanted beneath the skin between the thumb and forefinger and use radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to allow people to replace physical key cards, IDs and even train tickets.

The trend has become popular in Sweden, where more than 4,000 people have had chips implanted beneath their skin over the last five years through a company called Biohax.

A partnership with the Swedish national railway system means people are able to use the Biohax chips as a replacement for paper tickets and plastic travel cards.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, the company revealed it is in discussions with British firms about implementing the technology on its workers.

"These companies have sensitive documents they are dealing with," Biohax founder Jowan Österlund told the publication. "[The subdermal microchips] would allow them to set restrictions for whoever."

In response, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) both sounded the alarm about the privacy implications of such technology.

"While technology is changing the way we work, this makes for distinctly uncomfortable reading," A CBI spokesperson told The Guardian. "Firms should be concentrating on rather more immediate priorities and focusing on engaging their employees."

A TUC spokesperson added: "We know workers are already concerned that some employers are using tech to control and micromanage, whittling away their staff's right to privacy. Microchipping would give bosses even more power and control over their workers."

Mr Österlund said any partnerships with UK firms would allow employees to opt-in to the scheme, saying: "If you have a 15 per cent uptake, that is still a huge number of people that won't require a physical ID pass."

Advocates of the technology claim the chips improve efficiency in many aspects of their lives, as they allow frictionless transactions at security checkpoints and travel terminals.

One of the earliest adopters, prominent transhumanist Zoltan Istvan, told The Independent recently how he uses his chip to access his home, while also noting the limitations of the technology.

"I had an RFID chip inserted into my hand three years ago and use it to get in and out of my home, which is great because I don't need to carry around house keys anymore," he said.

"Unfortunately, technological progress means my chip is already relatively behind the current technology and it will take a surgical procedure to upgrade it, albeit minor."