RFID Passports Raise Safety Concerns

CurtMonash writes "CNNMoney.com features a skeptical article about the US State Department's plans to soon issue RFID passports (currently being tested on State Department employees). One fear is that they can be hacked for information about you. And even if they can't, carrying around a little transmitter saying 'I'm an American! I'm an American!' isn't a fun and safe thing to do in all parts of the world." From the article: "Basically, you've given everybody a little radio-frequency doodad that silently declares 'Hey, I'm a foreigner,' says author and futurist Bruce Sterling, who lectures on the future of RFID technology. 'If nobody bothers to listen, great. If people figure out they can listen to passport IDs, there will be a lot of strange and inventive ways to exploit that for criminal purposes.'"

Comments

yeah

[dolson]

Yeah, that is important because I know when Americans visit say, China or India, they can blend right in with everyone else if they don't have that transmitter.

Re:yeah

[MrShaggy]

And being said Canadian, I am all for making it much easier to spot the difference. GO BUSH GO!

Re:yeah

[SCHecklerX]

ok, how about an unattended claymore that is configured to go off when it sees the RFID? Didn't think of that, did ya!

Re:yeah

[kerry-buckley]

I know it's an essential part of the whole "keep 'em fat, stupid, scared and easily-trackable" agenda the US/UK governments have going, but I find it hard to believe the USA (especially!) is actually making it easier to identify its tourists and overseas personnel.

Presumably it's part of this "war on tourism" that I keep hearing Bush talking about.

Re:yeah

[AcidLacedPenguiN]

that works out fine until someone asks them what city they're from. . .
"erm, Upper Canada city. yeah that's it."

Re:yeah

[HermanAB]

Hmm, the difference between a Canadian and an American is about 3dB, so it not too difficult to detect them...

Save tinfoil hat for passport

[f0dder]

So if I wrap my RFID laden passport in tinfoil I am safe right? right?

Just one more justification...

[ralf1]

For my new lead lined briefcase. Who cares if it weighs 125 pounds.

Good Business Opportunity

[Dr_LHA]

This gives me a great idea for a new business opportunity! Sell RFID tags to American tourists that broadcast to the world "I AM A CANADIAN".

Re:Hows about..

[Anonymous Coward]

For even more convenience and increased security, the ID number could be the same as your Social Security number.

Re:Good Business Opportunity

[dr_dank]

It could be sold as part of the Canadian Disguise Kit, containing:

$50 in Canadian Tire Money
Milk in a bag
Those Groucho glasses with the fake nose and moustache on them (trust me on this)
Ticket stubs from a recent Gordon Lightfoot concert
and a mini Canadian phrase book

Re:Could you...

[tehcyder]

Could you or I get one of these new Passports and get it home... and proceed to slam it with a hammer?

I think when the Customs man noticed the sound of jangling little bits of metal and saw the hammer-shaped indentation on the passport, he might get suspicious.

come on,we're not all that stupid!

[/dev/trash]

Everyone knows it's Alaska.