I'd start looking for people with the meat of their hands between the thumb and index finger cut off in a Mexican village near you very soon...helpful x-ray though!

Kaspir

@dmexs: typos are offensive and pointless too isn't it isn't it mex? I suppose it's the internet that allows you the luxury of making offensive and pointless typos without consequence....

Kaspir

So, let me get this straight. People talk shit about Americans being over protective at airports yet it's ok for Mexicans to sew GPS' into their bodies???

JEmlay

@dmexs: The problem is that Mexico has a poor tower network, so tracking someone via a cell phone is next to impossible, they need the satellite connection - hence the fanny pack. It's still redundant though, the fanny pack and implant.

Yes, I apologize. I should have said "Mule."

Hectorvex

So if you need a mechanism big enough to fill your "fanny pack", why do they need to put something in your skin in the first place?? Can't that little chip go inside the fanny pack too??

unibrow4o9

I saw something similar to this in Pixar's The Incredibles.

ljj

One way to get your hands lopped off.

bms

Isn't scanning for transmitters that make the "weeweeroooowoowwww" sound the first thing "bad guys" do when kidnapping someone?

remps

In case of kidnapping? Who's doing the kidnapping?

takashimiike Ultimate

@BEERxTaco: Incredible insight, thank you.

@Hectorvex: I was thinking the same thing about the cell phone thing, don't some providers here even offer family tracking services? I probably would have refrained from the donkey comment, but that's what the freedom and anonymity of the internet isn't it allows you isn't it? The luxury of making offensive and pointless statements without consequence.

dmexs

@stackedrecords: Yeah, that's going to happen.

GadgetPlay

Other drawbacks? Uh, did anybody else see the Mythbusters knock up a phone booth sized faraday cage in about 4 hours?

A little copper screen and a grounding rod and your signals aren't going anywhere, amigo.

av8thor

I don't think the hand is the only place you can implant this.

But I guess if I were Mexican and a kidnapper, I would start bagging my victims in tin foil.

Noobs-R-Us

@Lev_Astov: 2 decades of sending millions of American Dollars across the border should have some effect.

They should put the trackers in a part of the body not easily hacked off.

LoganSix

@Hectorvex:

it's the ASSle iPhone!

Parapraxis

The GPS pack is stupid, but if the company instead setup a grid of transmitter towers across Mexico (or partner up with a cellphone provider), then the chips ID could be transmitted whenever it came in range?!

stackedrecords

@BEERxTaco: lmao

Mexico's actually fairly up and coming, despite our lack of knowledge about it.

Personally, I'd just go with one of those EPIRB watches meant for sailors. It costs about $2000 plus some fees per year. Even if they take it off of you, as long as you activate it before they do, they'll probably keep it because it looks pretty pimp, thus leading the rescue team straight to the captors.

Lev_Astov

If you have to carry the external transmitter, why have the chip implanted in your hand? The whole point of the chip in hand thing is so you don't have to carry an external transmitter. Apparently, there are 2,000 dumbass Mexicans who don't know they can be tracked by their cell phone's GPS. Of course, most of their cell phones are nothing more than a can with a really long string taped to the side of a Donkey.

Hectorvex

2000 people in Mexico can afford this?

BEERxTaco

...AND you keep your hands.

Elvisisdead

@Lev_Astov:

Yes, it's so up-and-coming that countless Mexicans flee to the U.S every year....

kaizoku80

@John Mahoney

[www.xega.com.mx]

Brassen

@warf0x0r:

"he's an artist, and death is his canvas"

Parapraxis

Um, I would simply get John W. Creasy to protect my kid. He comes at a low price cause he's got issues, but its well worth it.

If you haven't seen the new Man on Fire *spoilers*

+ Watch video

warf0x0r

Yes, because this is definitely going to help a shitload.

HellTempest

so not only will the system not work because you either won't have your gps fanny with you or it will be thrown out of the car window when you're kidnapped, but now the kidnappers know you just might have an RFID chip in your hand and will rob you of the flesh between your thumb and index finger.

stre

@nutbastard: I see you enjoy putting sarcasm to work as well, well fine job to YOU then sir...fine job indeed, you sure showed ME then, yea, I'm in my place now, mission accomplished, sure...pfft.

Kaspir

@JEmlay:

it's a stretch to compare invasive airport security by ones government to voluntary location tagging for private purposes.

@Kaspir:

good job trolling for typos... you sure showed him... good thing we all know how bad-ass you are now, what with having smacked him down so righteously...

nutbastard

@Hectorvex: and the can is shoved up to your ass, thats why I can't hear shit.

rotovibe

@JEmlay:

"Here's another clue - I'm not comparing the "services"."

"People talk shit about Americans being over protective at airports yet it's ok for Mexicans to sew GPS' into their bodies"

you're not comparing the services? really? because you could have fooled everyone who speaks english.

im sure people talk shit about mexicans sewing gps into their bodies as well.

what's your point?

nutbastard

Oh wow, looks like the "I Am Rich" folks found another business model.

trendspotter

@nutbastard:
I can see why you would think that as you're far out in left field with it.

Here's a clue - Mentality

Here's another clue - I'm not comparing the "services".

JEmlay

Xega is actually a group of kidnappers. If the ransom doesn't come through. They get over $6000 for implanting this. Then an additional 2k a year. Very nice idea.

tameanaka

@JEmlay:
Kidnapping family members of celebrities and the wealthy in exchange for ransom money is common in Mexico. There were more than 700 kidnappings last year, and the number is already over 300 this year. The kidnappers don't hesitate to kill the victims or chop off body parts as a warning. See [www.cnn.com]

humbleish

Like many other countries trying to rebuild after exploitative economic influences, Mexico has a very big wealth gap with a diminished middle class. There are actually some VERY wealthy people living there.

Consequently, local government is notoriously corrupt. Regular citizens don't even trust their own police. Kidnappings are fairly common, and it's become a BIG problem for the Mexican government to handle.

Keirmeister

@JEmlay:

I mean if you WERE comparing the services you'd have a reasonable analog to point out here (although still a stretch) about over-the-top yet still completely ineffective security methods.

"mentality" as in the modern fear-based economy and the goods and services it manifests? the mentality of security over privacy and civil liberties? you're being all uppity in tone in your response to my comment is one thing, but perhaps the effort would better have been spent actually explaining what you're talking about instead of leaving cryptic, ambiguous snark.

nutbastard

@Parapraxis: I need more cowbell!

warf0x0r

@nutbastard: The corrupt law enforcement over there like to pick on people with guns. Not that you can't own one, you'd just better have a little 'license' (bribe) money ready.

Gann

Makes sense to me... If you've got the transmitter with you when they kidnap you, great, people can find where you are. If the transmitter is ever separated from the RFID chip in your hand, then your supposed rescuers know where you were kidnapped from and can search from there. Until someone can build a device that can do GPS, transmit to satellites, run indefinitely, and be implantable, then this is the best I think that can be done.

dingus

@nutbastard: @Kaspir: Please return your Johnsons to their original upright and locked positions.

Thank you for flying Gizmodair.

ps61318

also, for this price doesn't it seem more prudent to simply purchase handguns and other defensive weapons and PREVENT kidnappings?

nutbastard

Great idea... now I can see kidnappers slicing into their victims hands looking for these things regardless of weather they have them or not.

MorganRW

I can't judge this yet because I don't quite understand how the whole system works.

But yeah, high chances this is only a way of exploiting people worried about kidnappings.

Which is a big problem in Mexico. It's a problem in Brazil too, so maybe they'll try bringing that stuff here...

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

If you can afford a $4000 implant and a $2200/yr service fee in Mexico...
... then why not get a bunch of personal body guards to cover your ass?

You can get at least a dozen at every Home Depot and Lowes over here, they got to be cheaper over there....

aec007

@Gann:

well if you can afford RFID GPS implants, you can afford to grease palms too, i imagine.

nutbastard

Not to mention, if the Mexican kidnappers read Giz.

Cobol_Mongol

Even if you didn't need the "fanny pack" transmitter, it would still be pretty easy for would be kidnappers to defeat this an RFID scanner and a hunting knife.

eblingmis

@aec007: The more money you have the more chances are that you will be kidnapped...if you carry tons of bodyguards it's never enough they will always be more kidnappers than bodyguards....sad and true reality here in Mexico...and about the product is kind of pointless since you still have to carry an external device wich will be destroyed easily since the kidnappers check everything that you are wearing.

Mike918

@aec007: "If you can afford a $4000 implant and a $2200/yr service fee in Mexico...
... then why not get a bunch of personal body guards to cover your ass?"

Bodyguards are a must for wealthy people... in some cases a driver and bodyguard in your Class III armored car which is being followed by a backup car with 3 more people.

Normally, it's a driver and a bodyguard (both with guns), so $4,000 + 2200 a years is an ADDITION to personal safety.

On the other hand, keep your lame gizmigrant comments for yourself.

DeLarge

why do you say they dont have a website? because you couldnt type .mx?

[www.xega.com.mx]

genterara

@JEmlay:

ha, looks like an editor thinks you're being a d-bag as well.

nutbastard

@JEmlay:

No, I still have no idea what your fucking point is, or what it is your are comparing. You're comparing People to Mexicans? Mexicans aren't people? Spell it out, i've got a hunch that nobody (perhaps not even you) knows what in the name of fuck you are babbling about.

first it's people bitching about TSA in america but not bitching about GPS RFID implants in mexico...

next, it's "mentality", not "services".

now the next clues are "mexicans" and "people".

ENGLISH MOTHERFUCKER DO YOU SPEAK IT?

nutbastard

@ntbstrd:
Y fl.

Hr's sm mr CLS fr y:

"Ppl"
"Mxcns"

G, cn y fgr t wht 'm CMPRNG nw?

Hw mny tms m gng t hv t prv yr "cllssnss"? Myb y shld jst "qt". Bcs y fl vry tm.

Sms t m ths stp wll hlp th thrts. t lst lttl. f th GPS vr lss trck f th RFD chp thn t cn sgnl fr mdt hlp. Thy'll ls hv n ntl pnt f CPTR r t lst knw whr th prsn lst ws wth hs/hr GPS wthn rng.

JEmlay

Now, back to what I posted earlier.

This device could actually help the authorities. As soon the GPS device loses track of the RFID chip, they'll have an exact location of where the person was abducted or at the very least where they were last together.

JEmlay

@nutbastard:
"ha, looks like an editor thinks you're being a d-bag as well."
"ENGLISH MOTHERFUCKER DO YOU SPEAK IT?"

Yeah, that it's it. So which editor are you in bed with?

The second part of my post was 100% on topic and 100% valid.

Since it's ok for you to rant and rave curse words around then I'll feel free to continue this.

My original post was on the MENTALITY of those that thumb their nose at Americans WANTING higher security yet it's ok to other areas of our planet to SEW electronic devices into their bodies for higher security.

I'm sorry you didn't have the brain power to understand that. That's not my problem.

Since it's ok for nutjob to rant and rave like a child but not me I'll assume this post will be removed as well. But feel free to continue crying over what you can't understand. I'll post my other half in a separate post so other won't have to miss it because your childish garbage.

JEmlay

@JEmlay:

no no, i dont imagine a post that actually expands upon your thoughts would be erased, and i wouldn't whine to an editor.

my original response was "it's a stretch to compare invasive airport security by ones government to voluntary location tagging for private purposes."

later, "im sure people talk shit about mexicans sewing gps into their bodies as well."

don't act like you had no opportunities to express yourself civilly instead of being dickish. if you're going to comment, *gasp* people might actually want to discuss your thoughts with you. If i didn't grasp the intent of your original comment, it was due to the fallacy of the assumption that no one has a problem with mexicans sewing RFIDs into their skin. who says no one does? beyond that, the TSA issue has been going on as an international issue for many years now, affect hundreds of thousands of people. if no ones bitching about mexican RFIDs, could it be perhaps because nobody has yet heard of this occurring?

if you cared to be civil and perhaps expand, you had every opportunity opportunity to do so.

nutbastard

@takashimiike Ultimate: oh, well, they have all sorts of kidnappings. A colleague of mine was express-kidnapped, for example. Which means they stuffed him blindfolded in a car right in front of the office door, drove him someplace, asked nicely for his collection of cards and their respective PINs, cleared out his accounts and he was home free by dinner.
BTW, this was about 9 years ago, they should be a lot more efficient by now. And it was right outside the metro Polanco, which is a rather busy area in one of the more affluent parts of Mexico-City.

But having such devices implanted could also mean a big disservice even to people who don't have those implants, because I can imagine that, just as a precaution, quite a few hands might be chopped off, since a lot of the kidnappers are that stupid and reckless.

yogibimbi

Once again, all of you are thinking too hard. If I was a kidnapper, I would have founded/work for/infiltrate Xega, in order to make my finding victims and making ransoms a lot easier.

Remember this mantra/saying: "Everything is simple, we're the ones who complicate things."
Original quote by: Shenanigans(Myself)

Now go enjoy your Friday, and stop thinking to hard about things. This is why your probably home alone tonight, without a girlfriend, with your draws around your ankles in front of the computer.

shenanigans

@nutbastard:
Whatever you say your holiness. All you do is run around, pretend that you don't understand what is being said then demand someone clear themselves up. I'm pretty sure that's called trolling.

FACT - Only YOU had a problem with what was said. My level of "civilness" is a direct reaction to your trollish behavior in most articles around here. Don't like it? Then change.

"and beyond all that, taking shots in the dark at your ambiguous comment, i actually nailed it"
No, you didn't. Wow, after all that you still don't get it. One's OPINION on airport security and it's affect on civil liberties is besides the point. Only YOU would INJECT your own BS propaganda into someone else's comment.

Got anything else to cry about? Or are you done now? How about more of that foul mouth of yours? That shows your age rather well.

JEmlay

@JEmlay:

and beyond all that, taking shots in the dark at your ambiguous comment, i actually nailed it (According to you) when i said "the mentality of security over privacy and civil liberties?"

nutbastard

no conspiracy theorists complaining about RFID tags?
nor about them being implanted in the hands?
i'm quite surprised...

athingunique

Its very common here in Mexico that the kidnap its planned by own of the "rich person" own bodyguards. Just so you get the idea the king of people this device its targeted at have to pay a 5 to 10 million dollar ransom if kidnap so i think 6000 is a bargain for them. By the way Mexico kidnap situation is horrible right now.

hazmx

.."Ominously, Tucker's source also told him that Bilderberg were discussing the microchipping of humans on a mass scale, which would be introduced under the pretext of fighting terrorism whereby the "good guys" would be allowed to travel freely from airports so long as their microchip could be scanned and the information stored in a database. .."

All this is part of the plans of the Bilderberg to control all human beings. They are clever and the advertising is good. Is amazing how people will do it with no resistance.

Get informed and be smart. Good luck.

[en.wikipedia.org]

andresvol

@beerxtaco: Actually the average medium class mexican can easily afford this.. and what's really sad, the average mexican makes probably more than 2 times what you make. And no, I'm not talking about US generated income which is then sent to MX, those are the poor people, that's why the came to the US looking for better opportunities. You should really expand your knowledge about other countries first before you start commenting about them, and by saying expanding I don't mean go to google images and type Mexico. Go to for instance Guadalajara or Monterrey and you'll see more ferraris and lambo's then you will ever see in your egocentric racist fantasy land country.

AbrahamJagabat

I need to share with the person who wrongly assumes that because Mexico is a country who still is part of a 'developing' economy, they have bad telecomunication services: Please know that Mexico has a much greater cell phone services along with Europe and Asia, by far better than the services we have in the US. The transition to installing digital communications began in the 90's and were far ahead than the ones in the US. About the transmittor story: Great idea that needs polishing and fixing (obviously) but it could help the authorities to fight the criminals and reduce the number of kidnapping cases in Mexico.

Winter_71

@remps: That would be the case in good old kidnapping, but here in Mexico, the kidnappers do this thing called "express-kidnapping" where they pick you off from the street, take your cellphone, and start calling your folks for some money to let you go, then drop you on the outside of the city once they have the reward, it all happens and ends in 5-6 hours so they can do it again on the same day to someone else. It's all pretty low tech and also pretty scary stuff I tell you.

mario.morales