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U.S. Biometric Passports By Late 2004

Posted by michael on from the papers-please dept.

truthsearch writes "The Register is reporting 'Current plans call for the new passport books to include a contactless smart chip based on the 14443 standard, with a minimum of 32 Kbytes of EEPROM storage. The chip will contain a compressed full-face image for use as a biometric. European biometric passports, by contrast, are planned to feature both retinal and fingerprint recognition biometrics on their smart cards.' How they tie this to '9/11 fears' is curious considering the hijackers had valid paperwork."

14 of 421 comments (clear)

  1. Privacy... by __aaklbk2114 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Excuse me, whoever posted this story forgot to add the following line somewhere in the summary:

    "The privacy implications here are worrying, and this sets a bad precedent, IMO."

    Slashdot editors, please make this correction immediatly.

    1. Re:Privacy... by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 2, Funny

      They also forgot to blame it on SCO.

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
  2. *phew* by revmoo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, I don't know about you guys but I feel so much SAFER now!!

    Now our fears of terrorism are answered, I can now sleep well at night again.

    God bless America!

    --
    I would expect such blatant racism on Fark, but on Slashdot? Mods please ban this asshole.
  3. Better than DNA Matching by Gefiltefish11 · · Score: 5, Funny


    Better to match on appearance than somethning more insidious and Ashcroftian (look mom, I made a new word!)...

    Please bleed in the cup, Mr. Anderson. We need to match your DNA to this passport.

  4. Follow Suit by GenusP · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think that life would be easier for everyone if the standards for passports were the same everywhere. Might as well follow suit with Europe and allow more info stored on the card. Here we are just setting ourselves up for upgrades within a short period of time. We could also switch to the metric system while we're at it.

    --
    "Make me some if you're making some"
  5. challenge? by r_orourke · · Score: 5, Funny
    "With this approach "you can read a chip and confirm its validity, but you cannot create one." said Moss.

    What is that? A challenge?

  6. Bio "Metrics" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Makes sense for Europe. We'd have to coin a new phrase for our system here in America. Something that denotes that it's base 12...

  7. Welcome.. by grub · · Score: 5, Funny


    Welcome to the United State of America. Allow the nice lady at the counter to take your picture, retinal scan, fingerprints, blood sample, stool sample, urine sample, hair follicle, oral swab. After that please check one of the two YES or NO boxes next to "I AM A TERRORIST" statement.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
  8. Re:what all the scriptkiddies are waiting for.. by RobertB-DC · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm glad I wasn't the only one who saw this:

    based on the 14443 standard

    and read this:

    based on the 31337 standard

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
  9. umm..how does that help by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I initially read that as

    "both rectal and fingerprint recognition biometrics on their smart cards."

  10. It's you! by verloren · · Score: 4, Funny

    So now the immigration officials can state with absolute authority:

    "It's definitely you. I don't know who you are, or why you're here, but you're definitely you."

    Great.

    Cheers, Paul

  11. Re:Valid paperwork is irrelevant. by DeltaSigma · · Score: 2, Funny

    I keep wanting to think that, but then I look at Bush and my mind just won't allow it...

  12. The Terrorist Bit by Myriad · · Score: 4, Funny
    The chip will contain a compressed full-face image for use as a biometric. European biometric passports, by contrast, are planned to feature both retinal and fingerprint recognition biometrics on their smart cards.

    What the article fails to mention is the most important aspect of the new design: the Terrorist Bit.

    As the above biometrics only help to ascertain that you are you, it was felt an added feature to easily separate the terrorists from the regular population was necessary.

    As such on the application form for your new passport will be a Terrorist checkbox. When the application is processed the Terrorist Bit is set accordingly.

    The bit may also be set at anytime by authorized representatives of the US Gov't such as the RIAA, and MPAA. In addition undercover officers looking for any Anti-American expressions or beliefs - including privacy advocates, anti-war activists, free software advocates, alternative energy supporters, and anyone generally disagreeing with the supreme-leader-of-free-nations, George W Bush.

    To ensure your security is of the highest order, each passport will include a unique license, the continuation of which requires an annual subscription fee. This license guarentees that no illegal copies of your passport can be made, its likeness replicated, or your identity compromised. The exact nature of the security measures taken are restricted for National Security reasons.

    Blockwars: a free multiplayer game

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  13. This is rediculous! by Cornflake917 · · Score: 2, Funny

    How they tie this to '9/11 fears' is curious considering the hijackers had valid paperwork.

    Many of the terrorist hijackers had expired visas for more than two years and the FBI didn't do anything about them. I just don't get how I have a video rental that is two days overdue and Blockbuster is all over my ass.

    I think we should put Blockbuster in charge of immigration!

    --
    Abaddon: An Xbox 360 Indie game