Privacy Threat in New RFID Travel Cards?

DemolitionX9 writes to tell us ZDNet has an interesting article rehashing the problems with privacy in future RFID-equipped travel documents and ID. The piece focuses on a recent speech given by Jim Williams, director of the Department of Homeland Security's US-VISIT program. From the article: "Many of the privacy worries center on whether RFID tags--typically minuscule chips with an antenna a few inches long that can transmit a unique ID number--can be read from afar. If the range is a few inches, the privacy concerns are reduced. But at ranges of 30 feet, the tags could theoretically be read by hidden sensors alongside the road, in the mall or in the hands of criminals hoping to identify someone on the street by his or her ID number."

Comments

Mark of the Beast!

[OverlordQ]

Oh noes, it's the end of the world! I mean look what happened with barcodes! People could track you from anywhere! What's that you say? You can't read them remotely? Well . . yes you can, with a Handy Dandy CAMERA! Yes for the low low price of $19.95 you can get a camera and take a picture of that barcode from 50 feet! Using our Super Duper Image Extrapolation software, you can read the barcode and steal their information!

I digress, the technology isn't the problem.