It was a chip that would be a required component in certain electronic devices, to allow effortless eavesdropping by the feds. Fortunately, many organizations and individuals mobilized on and off the 'net to defeat this bad idea at least temporarily. Maybe he should forget the chips and stick with his cheeseburgers and fries. With the advances of modern communications technology, privacy is increasingly at risk. It then reports the contents back to Microsoft.
Government has no business mandating placement of any electronic devices in consumer goods.
DeAngelis warns that the battleground has shifted from the discredited Clipper Chip to the V Chip because set-top boxes on TVs will provide Internet access in the future. Watch out for those politicians and news media folks who are afraid of your online access to alternate sources of news and information, undercutting their power. They are threatened by the uncensored information from all sources that is available on the 'net, online services, and even bulletin boards. If you're still worried about the Internet and your kids, supervise them and educate them. Instill your values in them.