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In an early example of conspiracy theories that would eventually envelop social media, I actually remember internet commenters pointing to the previous generati

In an early example of conspiracy theories that would eventually envelop social media, I actually remember internet commenters pointing to the previous generation of these as supposed "proof" that the government was embedding RFID chips in banknotes to track people (following a blog article by Alex Jones): https://news.slashdot.org/story/04/03/02/0535225/do-your-20-bills-explode-in-the-microwave https://news.slashdot.org/story/04/03/02/0535225/do-your-20-...

inanutshellus 1y ago
If I worked for VISA's marketing team I'd want to spread FUD like this and "XX% of dollar bills have cocaine on them; protect your children with a youth MasterCard!"
- colechristensen 1y ago
  There has been legitimate interest in putting RFID chips in high denomination Euro bills. It's not a whacky conspiracy theory but something actively being considered.
  - paradox460 1y ago
    Honestly I would welcome it in all bills. Cash drawers could become self accounting, and bill sorters and talliers wouldn't have to rely on magneto optical sensing
- nutjob2 1y ago
  For those not familiar with using powered drugs nasally, a credit or debit card is also usually a part of the drug taking toolkit. Its one of those odd occasions when you need both cash and credit.
  - portaouflop 1y ago
    You usually keep the credit card though and not hand it to someone for a drink 5 minutes later. Using banknotes is not advisable anyway. If you need to do this shit be smart about it.
    - nutjob2 1y ago
      True and so probably a lower percentage of cards have cocaine on them, but they do share contact points such as swipes and touches.
  - m463 1y ago
    [flagged]
littlestymaar 1y ago
What never cease to amaze me with conspiracy theorists, is that they keep inventing preposterous “conspiracies” while being totally oblivious about the real world. Like why bother putting chips in banknotes when the government could track everyone in real time through their smartphone.
- rconti 1y ago
  Sure, but in this case the /. comment was from 2004.
  - jajko 1y ago
    And phone tracking and recording was in place since phones went mobile. Sure, nothing smart there but BTS were there, and NSA was listening on all levels. CIA/NSA perfected the art of tapping optical undersea cables using special submarines without interrupting data flows in 90s IIRC.

inanutshellus 1y ago

If I worked for VISA's marketing team I'd want to spread FUD like this and "XX% of dollar bills have cocaine on them; protect your children with a youth MasterCard!"

colechristensen 1y ago
There has been legitimate interest in putting RFID chips in high denomination Euro bills. It's not a whacky conspiracy theory but something actively being considered.
- paradox460 1y ago
  Honestly I would welcome it in all bills. Cash drawers could become self accounting, and bill sorters and talliers wouldn't have to rely on magneto optical sensing
nutjob2 1y ago
For those not familiar with using powered drugs nasally, a credit or debit card is also usually a part of the drug taking toolkit. Its one of those odd occasions when you need both cash and credit.
- portaouflop 1y ago
  You usually keep the credit card though and not hand it to someone for a drink 5 minutes later. Using banknotes is not advisable anyway. If you need to do this shit be smart about it.
  - nutjob2 1y ago
    True and so probably a lower percentage of cards have cocaine on them, but they do share contact points such as swipes and touches.
- m463 1y ago
  [flagged]

littlestymaar 1y ago

What never cease to amaze me with conspiracy theorists, is that they keep inventing preposterous “conspiracies” while being totally oblivious about the real world. Like why bother putting chips in banknotes when the government could track everyone in real time through their smartphone.

rconti 1y ago
Sure, but in this case the /. comment was from 2004.
- jajko 1y ago
  And phone tracking and recording was in place since phones went mobile. Sure, nothing smart there but BTS were there, and NSA was listening on all levels. CIA/NSA perfected the art of tapping optical undersea cables using special submarines without interrupting data flows in 90s IIRC.