Tracking Children Via GPS

In his novel "Hominids" Robert J. Sawyer describes a parallel earth where Neanderthals became the dominant species of hominids, and homo sapiens died out.  The near-angelic Neanderthals of this imaginary world are eco-friendly atheists who sterilize rather than execute the criminally violent.  They also have advanced surveillance implants embedded in all members of their society, providing a detailed audio-visual record of everything that goes on in their lives.  This information is transmitted and securely stored at a central archive, accessible only by the individual whose life has been recorded, or via the equivelant of a court order.  That may be okay for improbably intelligent Neanderthals living in a fictitious idyllic world, but here in the real world there's no way that information would be kept confidential or used only as promised.  So, why am I in favor of GPS tracking for children?

Several options exist for parents to use the latest technology to keep tabs on their children.  Just last month the Insignia "Little Buddy" GPS tracker went on sale through Best Buy.  Some say this is awful, others love it.  It's a pocket-sized device that children can carry and which parents can use to see where there kids are at all time.  I think it's a nice idea, but doesn't go far enough.  I think children need GPS implants.

Think about it.  Put a "Little Buddy" in your 4-year-old's pocket and she may or may not lose it during the day.  Your dear, sweet 6 year old might just decide that spashing down in a mud puddle seems like a great idea, soaking both his clothes and the $100 device in his pocket.  Either way, you'd be out a lot of money.  On the other hand, put a chip under your kid's skin and that thing isn't coming out easily without a doctor's assistance.

What I'm suggesting is a logical solution for parents to use with their underage children.  Specifically, I think parents should have the chip removed by the time their kids become teenagers, although this is precisely the age when many parents become particularly concerned.  I am not interested in government-mandated chipping of all people, nor even all children.  This is something I'd like to see offered for sale and used or not, as parents make up their minds.  At first it would be pricey, but I'm sure price could go down over time.  Make the chip small enough to be unnoticeable and insert it under the skin.  Parents could activate it remotely just from time to time to test, conserving energy.

This isn't technology that I think is unreasonable or even that far off in our future.  In the event that a child disappears, parents would be thankful they had taken the step and authorities would have a means to swiftly retrieve the child.  In an abduction, hours may matter.  Why take the chance?