A Biohacker Wants to Sue the NSW Government for Denying Him Cyborg Rights

A scientist called Meow-Ludo Disco Gamma Meow-Meow (his real name) has vowed to take legal action against Transport for NSW (TfNSW) after they deactivated the Opal travel card chip he kept under the skin of his hand, AAP reports. As reported last year, Meow-Meow had the near-field communication chip cut out from the travel card, then covered in bio-compatible plastic. After its insertion by a "piercing expert," he could simply wave his hand over transport readers to tap on.

"I can walk out of my house, forget my wallet, forget my phone and everything and I'm still going to able to interact with technology," he enthused.

TfNSW released a statement in 2017 after Meow-Meow hit the news, clarifying their position on the modification of travel cards. "Customers that are caught tampering with their Opal card may have their card cancelled," they said.

The 34-year-old body hacker now has a court date of March 16, in which he's expected to fight the $200 fine he received for riding a train without a valid ticket.

The scientist, who belongs to the Science Party and says he once ran "in a previous election against Barnaby Joyce," is an advocate for progressing laws to include rights for the nascent body-hacking community.

AAP reports that he is looking to hear from a lawyer interested in representing him pro bono, in what would be Australia's first court case centred on "cyborg rights."