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New York Issues RFID-Encoded Drivers Licenses

Posted by kdawson on from the tinfoil-hats-are-extra dept.

JagsLive passes along the intelligence that New York has become the second state to issue drivers licenses with RFID tags (Washington was the first). The new "enhanced drivers licenses" cost $30 more than the old ones. They can be used instead of a passport for entry into the US by land or sea (not air) from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Authorities say no personal information will be stored or transmitted by the chip, only an ID number that will be meaningless to anyone but DHS. Citizens of New York who prefer not to carry an identifying RFID chip can still get an old-style license.

3 of 288 comments (clear)

  1. Meaningless? by McGregorMortis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A Social Security number is "meaningless". It's just an identifier. But it's a number that uniquely identifies you, and if other people get their hands on it, or are able to spoof it, then than meaningless number can have adverse effects on your life.

    How is this "meaningless" identifier any different?

  2. Re:You'd be Wrong by tomz16 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And why does it have to be contactless for ANY of the proposed applications?

    Am I the only one who fails to see the push for RFID in identifying cards? I've use my mastercard with RFID chip at the local supermarket. It's really NO more convenient than the magstripe... but it DOES open up the possibility that someone could clone my card from a few feet away!!! Furthermore, I don't see how this benefits the CC company. I've never had a magstripe on a credit card wear out before the bank sent me a new one (and I use my credit card at least once or twice a day)...

    If you really are JUST storing an identifier on the drivers license, wouldn't a barcode or magstripe accomplish the same thing, AND be MUCH more secure? My current NYS drivers license has one of those fancy 2D looking barcodes. Isn't that sufficient for storing an ID number? If it isn't, then what about just printing another one of those. There's plenty of space! Not only would that be cheaper (hardware is currently in place), but it would also be impossible to probe from dozens of feet away!

  3. Re:You'd be Wrong by ben2umbc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Now when you walk by a different reader, doubleclick knows who you are.

    Oh no. You mean there will be targeted ads for stuff we might buy? The world will turn into a real life Amazon.com or Netflix, "Hello, Bob. You bought lingerie, hand cuffs and black duct tape last time. Similar buyers also bought whips."

    Thats funny, but that will be possible in the future. A system is possible using:

    • video cameras or other form of biometrics sensing technology
    • RFID
    • and your frequent shopper or credit card

    to

    • identify you when you walk into the store
    • know your past purchases
    • items you may have picked up and looked at but did not purchase
    • and know whether you prefer regular or low fat

    It may be possible already, if not, then soon.