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Today is Comment Deadline for RFID-Chip Passports

Posted by timothy on from the secure-in-papers-and-effects dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Today is the deadline for submitting comments to the State Department concerning the use of RFID chips in passports. These devices would store in digital form all the information currently on a passport as well as a digital copy of the passport picture. This information could then be read by an RFID reader presumably being operated by port of entry personnel. However, these devices could feasibly be read by anyone, including those with malicious intent. The use of RFID chips in passports is a bad idea for many more reasons than can be listed here. If you haven't yet, send your comments to the State Department. You can email them directly at PassportRules@state.gov with the subject 'RIN 1400-AB93' or go to rfidkills.com for more information and an online submittal form. ... It's also being covered on Wired." Here's the proposed rule itself (PDF).

2 of 29 comments (clear)

  1. Why must they emit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is something I don't get. Why use something that emits a signal? Digitize it ... fine. Barcode it for easy reading ... fine. But why make it so somebody sitting next to me in an airport can pickup the signal?

    1. Re:Why must they emit? by jcuffe · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Not to mention the fact that if they make everyone's ID emit some value, who can say what happens when you get a cluster of people standing together? Even if the broadcasting range of the RFID device is quite short, wouldn't you still have to basically whip out your card and swipe it to ensure that it's reading *your* card and not somebody else's? And if you have to do that, isn't the RFID chip 100% liability and 0% benefit?