Should Connecticut Ban Workplace Microchips Like Washington State Just Did?

According to Popular Science, we’ve reached the point where this is an actual headline: the Washington just passed a law banning companies from requiring employees to implant microchips under their skin.

Yes. That’s real.

Get our free mobile app

Now, to be fair, no one is reportedly forcing workers to get chipped. Washington lawmakers say this is a proactive move — a “let’s not wait until this becomes a problem” kind of thing. The bipartisan bill makes it clear that employers can’t request, require, or coerce anyone into getting a microchip implanted for any reason.

We’re talking about the same RFID-style chips used to track pets. They can also open doors or grant access with a wave of your hand. Convenient? Maybe. Slightly dystopian? Definitely.

Read More: Danbury Ranked as the 7th Most Diverse City in America

Some lawmakers reportedly laughed before voting on it because it sounds so out there. But one sponsor made the point: better to get ahead of a potential mess than try to fix it after it’s too late.

So here’s the Connecticut question: should we be doing the same thing?

It might feel unnecessary right now. But if Washington is drawing a line in the sand before this even becomes an issue, maybe Connecticut should at least be having the conversation.