Charities condemn use of microchip to track girl

Children’s charities have strongly criticised the decision
by parents of an 11-year-old girl to implant a microchip in her arm
so her whereabouts can be tracked.

Danielle Duval is due to be implanted with the microchip at
Reading University in the next few weeks. The procedure costs
around £20.

Tink Palmer, principal policy and practice officer at
Barnardo’s, said that she had “grave reservations” about the
procedure, which she considers ill thought out.

“We need to think about the ethical issues and the psychological
impact on the young person,” she said. “I’d far rather this
didn’t happen. Surely we should be trying to teach children
about being sensible and safe.”

Meanwhile, the Children’s Society stressed that
‘microchipping’ avoids the “real issue” of how to ensure children
are brought up in a safe environment.