[ashleyn]

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-...

[inanutshellus]

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!"

[nutjob2]

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]

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]

True and so probably a lower percentage of cards have cocaine on them, but they do share contact points such as swipes and touches.

[colechristensen]

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]

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

[littlestymaar]

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]

Sure, but in this case the /. comment was from 2004.

[jajko]

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.