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E-Passport In the Works

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the chip-makers-pleased dept.

ExE122 writes "In an attempt to curb falsification of passports, the United States has placed an order for millions of embedded ID chips. 'The chips carry an encrypted digital photograph of the passport holder. The chip is designed to be read by a special device that will be used by U.S. government workers who check passports when travelers come through border crossings. The State Department began issuing what are being called e-passports to tourists last week and will gradually increase production. State Department spokeswoman Janelle Hironimus said existing passports will remain valid until they expire but, eventually, all U.S. passports — about 13 million will be issued in 2006 — will contain such chips.'"

8 of 300 comments (clear)

  1. Scene at the customs office by krell · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Mr.... let's see 5AVE On Va1iumViagraCialis? Yes, everything checks out. Welcome to America!"

    --
    Where were you when the voynix came?
  2. Americans traveling to other countries. by krell · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Because we all know how often Americans travel overseas."

    Hey, I went to New Mexico twice in the last 6 years. That's fairly often, I think.

    --
    Where were you when the voynix came?
    1. Re:Americans traveling to other countries. by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 4, Funny

      I, for one, welcome our new McDonald's-cramming, identity-stealing, drive-by-shooting North American overlo......

      oh, never mind.

      --
      My blog
    2. Re:Americans traveling to other countries. by Grishnakh · · Score: 3, Funny

      Is your employer one of these places that works everyone 35 hours a week to get out of paying benefits?

      You say this like it's a bad thing. Employees need to stop worrying about their little personal lives and worry more about providing shareholder value. Not taking any vacation, working unpaid overtime, etc. are all great ways to achieve this. How about some volunteer work? Volunteer to work weekends, for no pay. Or volunteer with your spare time to do chores, like yardwork, for your boss so that he can concentrate on providing more shareholder value.

      Won't somebody please think about the shareholders??!!

  3. anti-pirate passports! by invader_allan · · Score: 3, Funny

    We all know that paper is so easy to modify, so we need to go to chips. Chips are more secure, while harder to duplicate. Like game chips, which don't get coppied freely like paper products such as books. Books can also be "emulated" in pdf or e-text formats. Chips can't be emulated or falsely burned with someone elses data!

  4. bomb makers can now target americans by RichMan · · Score: 4, Funny

    So now the bomb makers can design bombs to explode when a certain number of american passports are within range.

    They don't need to correctly talk to the passports only determine that they are american passports.

  5. Yes, also by gerf · · Score: 2, Funny

    You can throw your new one in a microwave just in case :D

  6. Re:WHY? by Andrewkov · · Score: 3, Funny

    This technology will just encourage unlawful face transplanting. Haven't you seen that John Travolta movie?