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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.'"

3 of 300 comments (clear)

  1. US Department of State announcement by SgtPepperKSU · · Score: 4, Informative
    I actually ran into this a few days ago while looking into getting a passport. They announced this on the 14th.
    The Department of State has employed a multi-layered approach to protect the privacy of the information and to mitigate the chances of the electronic data being skimmed (unauthorized reading) or eavesdropped (intercepting communication of the transmission of data between the chip and the reader by unintended recipients).
    It seems the passports will come with their foil hats pre-installed ;-)
  2. Anti-skimming/eavesdropping measures by SgtPepperKSU · · Score: 5, Informative
    More info form department of state:
    The Department of State has employed a multi-layered approach to protect the privacy of the information and to mitigate the chances of the electronic data being skimmed (unauthorized reading) or eavesdropped (intercepting communication of the transmission of data between the chip and the reader by unintended recipients). Metallic anti-skimming material incorporated into the front cover and spine of the e-passport book prevents the chip from being skimmed, or read, when the book is fully closed; Basic Access Control (BAC) technology, which requires that the data page be read electronically to generate a key that unlocks the chip, will prevent skimming and eavesdropping; and a randomized unique identification (RUID) feature will mitigate the risk that an e-passport holder could be tracked. To prevent alteration or modification of the data on the chip, and to allow authorities to validate and authenticate the data, the information on the chip will include an electronic signature (PKI).
  3. Re:Americans traveling to other countries. by PPGMD · · Score: 3, Informative
    It can also be frustrating to those working on a tight schedule.

    One of my clients is a developer company, based in Mexico City, but with offices in most of the vacation hot spots in the US (because they own high rises in all those cities). There were having issues with their ERM, because it was a fixit session it was scheduled between other trips, and I only had two days on site. Well that wouldn't have been an issue, if they didn't stop working everyday for 3 hours to have lunch and watch the World Cup.

    I don't know what it is, but the way we work versus the way that work is done in Europe and Latin America, is hugely different. I like to relate, to the Super Market that was across the street from where I was staying in Amsterdam, they were open M-F 10am-5pm, for an American that is unfathomable, Europeans are used to it, and adept to it, and I did too (by adept I mean I mostly ate at restraunts that were open later in the evening) when I was there for 3 months on a project. But it's quite strange for someone who's last job involved making a 1am Taco Bell run during my 11pm - 11am shift.