In recent days, rumors have been swelling on social networks: some protective masks against the coronavirus are said to be equipped with electronic chips. In viral videos, we even see Internet users “peeling” their mask and triumphantly showing the chip in question …
Are there microchips in protective masks against the coronavirus? Asked about this this Friday August 14, 2020 on France Inter, the Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon was (a little) caught off guard: “I can tell you that French fabric masks are excellent, I wear them every day and they have a much better impact on our environment, we can wash them, reuse them. They are made in France, near you and do not have an integrated chip, I can guarantee that.“
In fact, some protective masks against the coronavirus do have an electronic chip – and, more precisely, an RFID chip that allows information to be stored. Rest assured: this does not concern the masks marketed to the general public, but rather the masks supplied to employees by companies. In short: the mask bought in a pharmacy or tobacco shop does not contain any.
Yes, there are RFID chips in some masks; no, they are not used to track citizens
What is this RFID chip for? With all due respect to the followers of conspiracy theories, this RFID chip integrated into certain masks is not intended to “track” citizens. As Fabrice Zehra, the president of UBI solutions (the French company that produces these masks) explains at the microphone of France Inter: “Connected Mask [le nom du modèle de UBI Solutions] is equipped with an integrated RFID chip with Flashcode allowing the user to control the number of washes with a smartphone application“.
It is therefore a question of security: thanks to this RFID chip, it is possible to know how many times the mask has already been washed – therefore to know if it is still usable or not. This is essential data for certain sensitive companies which require special sanitary conditions.
“The connected mask is a reusable fabric mask which is the only mask capable of telling whether it is still usable or not.“sums up the manufacturer. A technology that is not new:”it has been used for the laundry for twenty years, for example. We work with amusement parks such as Puy du Fou, Paris hospitals for gowns …“.
Not enough to panic, so: “the challenge of this technology is not to trace the actions of individuals or to attain their freedoms, adds Fabrice Zehra. It is the mask which is drawn and not the user. There is no link between the identity of the mask wearer and the mask.“It is recalled that at present, these” connected “masks are not accessible to the general public – only to certain companies.
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