Pegleg: A New Frontier of Privacy
Summary
Biohackers are finding new ways to use technology to change human bodies and push the limits of what’s possible. A device called Pegleg is a new frontier of privacy, storing and transferring data in the human body. This article features an interview with Michael Lauffe, the biohacker and one of the creators of this new device, as he shares insights on how the device works, the advantages of putting it in the human body, the community of people using the device, and the purpose of his project called Four Thieves Vinegar Collective.
Table of Contents
- What is Pegleg?
- How does Pegleg work?
- What are the advantages of putting Pegleg in your body?
- Who are the community of people using Pegleg?
- What is Four Thieves Vinegar Collective?
Q&A
What is Pegleg?
Pegleg is a device that stores and transfers data in the human body, created by biohackers looking to utilize technology to change the human body. It is based on a Raspberry Pi Zero W, which has Wi-Fi built-in, a second Wi-Fi card, coil for power, power management circuitry, and a capacitor that acts as a power buffer. By holding a battery to Pegleg, it creates a network that anyone who has an internet-enabled device can connect to.
How does Pegleg work?
Pegleg works like a Wi-Fi hotspot, whereby you look for Wi-Fi networks and Pegleg will come up, and you click on it, and the splash screen comes up. Everything is anonymous making it impossible to surveil unless you’re there. When there is a local area network, all in that room can connect to it and communicate. It is not connected to the regular internet.
What are the advantages of putting Pegleg in your body?
The primary advantage of putting Pegleg in the body is the ability to have complete autonomy and control over the device. A wearable can be confiscated and must have an internal power source that will fail, and wearables do not communicate with each other. Pegleg can’t be compelled to turn off, and anything that the user would want to shield would be encrypted. The device is passive, only turning on when the user wants it to.
Who are the community of people using Pegleg?
The grinding community is a subculture within the biohacking community that creates new innovations in biohacking that are fearlessly innovative, as well as on the bleeding edge. Most biohackers are aware of the risks they assume, and the differentiating factor of grinding is their willingness to take risks in pushing boundaries.
What is Four Thieves Vinegar Collective?
Four Thieves Vinegar Collective is a collective that brings medicine and medical technology to people who don’t have access to it. The collective has worked on projects that enable people to manufacture their medicines or build their medical technologies. It enables access to medical technology that otherwise would be too expensive or not legal, or simply not available.
Conclusion
Pegleg is a new frontier of privacy, storing and transferring data in the human body. Michael Lauffe, a biohacker and one of the creators of Pegleg, discusses the device and the advantages of putting it in the human body. The interviews also touch on the community of people using Pegleg, as well as Lauffe’s project, Four Thieves Vinegar Collective. Biohacking continues to push boundaries and create new possibilities for human bodies and technology.
