Q&A - Briar Prestidge’s RFID Microchip Implant

I am getting an RFID microchip implanted into my hand on Sunday and here are some common questions I’ve been getting asked from my community below.. 

Who is Briar Prestidge and why is she doing this?

Based between New York and Dubai, Briar Prestidge is a serial entrepreneur, “Web3 evangelist” (Forbes), and futurist. She is the Founder and CEO of executive branding agency Prestidge Group, Executive Producer of Digital Twiin Productions, and Metaverse Board Advisor to INTERPOL and Metaverse Fashion Council.

Renowned for her curious and inquisitive persona, Briar Prestidge has set out on a bold journey to explore the future of humanity. She believes we should all be curious about our future and what it could become, so that it’s built with us in mind. For Briar, it’s beyond the microchip, it’s about the stance she’s taking: she believes that through the ethical use of science, medical and technological advancements to expand human capabilities, we can create a better world.

What is a microchip? 

A microchip is a small computer chip that varies in functionality. Briar is opting for the NExT (RFID + NFC) Chip Implant, created by Dangerous Things, a US-based cybernetic microchip biohacking implant retailer. The implant is almost the size of a grain of rice.

What will it allow Briar to do?

This device will allow Briar to interface with certain electronic devices, like the electronic locks on her home door or her car, and even store and share information like social media handles. She can access these functionalities by first programming the chip with an accompanying app, and then interfacing with devices using RFID or NFC connectivity.

Yes, the chip will make Briar’s life more convenient so she won’t have to carry around her keys and contact details, but she’s more so excited about what perhaps comes next, such as payment chips or health chips that measure her vitals, or brain-computer interfaces.

Will the procedure be painful?

The procedure will involve injecting the microchip, which is almost the size of a grain of rice, into the webbing between the index finger and thumb. People who have undergone this procedure told Briar that there will be some pain involved at first, but eventually one forgets the chip is in their hand. However, it might move around the skin sometimes with movement and activity.

Can the microchip be removed?

If at any point Briar would like to remove the microchip, she will need to undergo a minor surgical procedure to extract it.

Could the microchip be damaged?

If the impact or accident is significant, in which case a person’s bones are shattered, so too would cause damage to a microchip. However, under normal circumstances, there is no fear of the microchip accidentally breaking on its own.

Can someone hack the microchip and steal your data?

This is a very valid question. Just as criminals can use special devices to swipe financial data off a credit card in your wallet, they can glean the info you store on a microchip. However, as mentioned, it’s no different from the personal data on your smartphone, credit card, or smartwatch being vulnerable to having the data on them stolen. 

Can the microchip be used to control or influence you?

Just as no one can use Briar’s phone to influence or control her, the same applies to a microchip. It is in no way linked to her brain or nervous system.