Comments on: Passports to get RFID chip implants

The State Department says tiny tracking chips will be put in passports starting next year, despite concerns over privacy.

[m.meister]

Once again..

Once again, this administration shows an arrogance and, frankly,
an ignorance to the concerns of privacy of the citizens of this
nation.

I don't see Congress being the saviors though. They are ready to
crush our rights at the drop of a hat (can anyone say Patriot Act).

Whenever someone challenges either of them, the two catch
phrases come out to play: "terrorism" and "9/11". This
administration's power is based on nothing but fear.

[Techno Guy]

The Shadow of Fear

I think this discussion is best divorced from the bogieman of Bush-bashing. The fact is, neither major political party in the United States is particularly interested in protecting personal data, and proponents and opponents can be found in both parties. It is more a matter of personal conviction than it is of partisan loyalty.

[m.meister]

Once again..

Once again, this administration shows an arrogance and, frankly,
an ignorance to the concerns of privacy of the citizens of this
nation.

I don't see Congress being the saviors though. They are ready to
crush our rights at the drop of a hat (can anyone say Patriot Act).

Whenever someone challenges either of them, the two catch
phrases come out to play: "terrorism" and "9/11". This
administration's power is based on nothing but fear.

[Techno Guy]

The Shadow of Fear

I think this discussion is best divorced from the bogieman of Bush-bashing. The fact is, neither major political party in the United States is particularly interested in protecting personal data, and proponents and opponents can be found in both parties. It is more a matter of personal conviction than it is of partisan loyalty.

[dargon19888]

RFID not yet ready for primetime...

Its one thing to use RFID in managing warehouse distribution, its another to try and manage it with individuals.

Since any RFID reader can read the RFID chip, what's to stop someone like Wal-Mart from capturing the data as you enter the store or when you make the purchase. This way they can capture your id with your CC purchase.

If that sounds paranoid, its not. Wal-Mart will place RFID scanners at their entrace/exits for theft prevention. All scanned tags' data will be captured...

In reality though, all the RFID tag will do for the US government is to ensure that the passport being presented is one that has been issued by the US government, cracking down on forgeries.

And even then, there will still be ways to cheat the system.

[Techno Guy]

Reasonable Discussion

I agree that there are legitimate privacy and security concerns over including RFID chips in passports, but identity theft at the hands of WalMart isn't one of them, for at least two reasons: 1) Most people aren't likely to carry their passports while shopping at WalMart, and 2) the RFID chip in a passport will be shielded so that WalMart's readers likely wouldn't even detect them.

[dargon19888]

RFID not yet ready for primetime...

Its one thing to use RFID in managing warehouse distribution, its another to try and manage it with individuals.

Since any RFID reader can read the RFID chip, what's to stop someone like Wal-Mart from capturing the data as you enter the store or when you make the purchase. This way they can capture your id with your CC purchase.

If that sounds paranoid, its not. Wal-Mart will place RFID scanners at their entrace/exits for theft prevention. All scanned tags' data will be captured...

In reality though, all the RFID tag will do for the US government is to ensure that the passport being presented is one that has been issued by the US government, cracking down on forgeries.

And even then, there will still be ways to cheat the system.

[Techno Guy]

Reasonable Discussion

I agree that there are legitimate privacy and security concerns over including RFID chips in passports, but identity theft at the hands of WalMart isn't one of them, for at least two reasons: 1) Most people aren't likely to carry their passports while shopping at WalMart, and 2) the RFID chip in a passport will be shielded so that WalMart's readers likely wouldn't even detect them.

[ballssalty]

Glad I just got mine

I'm glad I just got my passport. It won't expire for ten years.

But I have to agree, the arrogance is astounding. 98.5% of comments were negative and they go through with it anyway. What balls.

I guess you could try and rip it out or damage it in someway that no reader can read it and just say it must be defective or something.

Damage the RFID chip

Why not just put the passport in the microwave for a minute. I'm pretty sure that would kill the chip.

Next question is what would the passport checker do to you when he scans the passport and it doesn't work. Do you think that a full body cavity search would be next?

[ballssalty]

Glad I just got mine

I'm glad I just got my passport. It won't expire for ten years.

But I have to agree, the arrogance is astounding. 98.5% of comments were negative and they go through with it anyway. What balls.

I guess you could try and rip it out or damage it in someway that no reader can read it and just say it must be defective or something.

Damage the RFID chip

Why not just put the passport in the microwave for a minute. I'm pretty sure that would kill the chip.

Next question is what would the passport checker do to you when he scans the passport and it doesn't work. Do you think that a full body cavity search would be next?

[shadowself]

New Business Idea

Anyone want to start a business of making copper foil lined passport holders?

You could make an entire line of them from very high end with the outside make of expensive leather all the way down to plastic exterior with designs and/or logos on them.

I know in 9 years when my current passport expires I'll either be buying one or making one of my own! I don't trust that just closing it and putting it into my pocket will keep it from being read. Inside a nice sleeve which is copper foil lined will be much more reasuring.

[shadowself]

New Business Idea

Anyone want to start a business of making copper foil lined passport holders?

You could make an entire line of them from very high end with the outside make of expensive leather all the way down to plastic exterior with designs and/or logos on them.

I know in 9 years when my current passport expires I'll either be buying one or making one of my own! I don't trust that just closing it and putting it into my pocket will keep it from being read. Inside a nice sleeve which is copper foil lined will be much more reasuring.

[NotaBene]

It won't solve the problem

Implanting RFID chips in passports is not going to make them more secure. Because they are RF they can be scanned at any time without the passport holders knowledge. And if it can be scanned it can be copied. And if it can be copied it's useless for the purpose of uniquely identifying anyone

[NotaBene]

It won't solve the problem

Implanting RFID chips in passports is not going to make them more secure. Because they are RF they can be scanned at any time without the passport holders knowledge. And if it can be scanned it can be copied. And if it can be copied it's useless for the purpose of uniquely identifying anyone

[vigilant]

it begs the question

since they do it against the will of the people, also this passport will be simple to fake, why are they doing it? i wonder if this administration has some kind of interest in the security busines..

[vigilant]

it begs the question

since they do it against the will of the people, also this passport will be simple to fake, why are they doing it? i wonder if this administration has some kind of interest in the security busines..

[Roman12]

chip implants

Sounds like a cool high-tech plan. But if you think about it, it seems dangerous. What is these scanners fall into hands of the enemy? Then every US passportis readable from a distance. Any encryption is crackable eventually... I personally think the current passports are just fine, or at least these new ones aren't better overall.

[Roman12]

chip implants

Sounds like a cool high-tech plan. But if you think about it, it seems dangerous. What is these scanners fall into hands of the enemy? Then every US passportis readable from a distance. Any encryption is crackable eventually... I personally think the current passports are just fine, or at least these new ones aren't better overall.

Ok Guys this is a no brainier!

When you have the top experts in the field of RFID technologies telling you that at the present time, current encryption technology is unable to make RFID completely secure? you should listen.

Yes, Wal-Mart has been using this technology for awhile to track its movement of sending and receiving of inventory between locations, but last I knew it was to cost prohibitive to actually attach them to actual items. Even the passive RFID chips run about 20 cents apiece.

I feel this is one area that we need to actually take a step back and allow better encryption technology to emerge before the deployment of RFID chips are installed in passports.

eddy.... ha ha

encryption? ha ha ha..

I got beamed up to a red white and blue noahs ark once.. and traveling out of the country on the company card... it invites you to a whole bunch of very interesting people... now with this rfid stuff... it really makes me look forward to some serious biz opps... I mean opportunities..... ha ha ha.....

Ok Guys this is a no brainier!

When you have the top experts in the field of RFID technologies telling you that at the present time, current encryption technology is unable to make RFID completely secure? you should listen.

Yes, Wal-Mart has been using this technology for awhile to track its movement of sending and receiving of inventory between locations, but last I knew it was to cost prohibitive to actually attach them to actual items. Even the passive RFID chips run about 20 cents apiece.

I feel this is one area that we need to actually take a step back and allow better encryption technology to emerge before the deployment of RFID chips are installed in passports.

eddy.... ha ha

encryption? ha ha ha..

I got beamed up to a red white and blue noahs ark once.. and traveling out of the country on the company card... it invites you to a whole bunch of very interesting people... now with this rfid stuff... it really makes me look forward to some serious biz opps... I mean opportunities..... ha ha ha.....

[embeddedsystems.us]

Passport, Popcorn, Microwave Oven

A few seconds in a microwave oven with the cover open will destroy the RFID chip.

Will government agencies (customs, etc.) rely on printed information only in the case of a defective RFID?

Would a citizen traveling with a defective RFID passport still be allowed entry into US and foreign ports?

[embeddedsystems.us]

Passport, Popcorn, Microwave Oven

A few seconds in a microwave oven with the cover open will destroy the RFID chip.

Will government agencies (customs, etc.) rely on printed information only in the case of a defective RFID?

Would a citizen traveling with a defective RFID passport still be allowed entry into US and foreign ports?

[Gayle-Edwards]

What I love...

I wish more people would pay attention to the "International angle" of this GROSS political-manipulation.

Europe is RAILROADING this BIOMETRIC identity scheme through, over the angry protests of individual-nations, and citizens, by claiming that "...they have to do this", to comply with American-standards. And, American-politicians are claiming that WE AMERICANS have to do this in order to allow compliance with an "International" standard.

And, both sides conveniently ignore the reality that this plots primary-purpose is actually to facilitate every participating governments ability to identify, and mercilessly-track, their own citizens, both directly and through "..information sharing" agreements, which are, for the most part, rather obviously designed especially to allow various government-agencies to side-step nearly every chance for "oversight" or "legal-restrictions" upon their nearly ABSOLUTE-POWER to "..monitor" every facet of our lives.

England, is trying to shove national BIOMETRIC-IDs down their own citizens throats, right now. And, the U.S. government has already passed the "REAL-ID Act" which does the same thing to ALL "U.S. citizens".

And, NONE OF THIS will actually benefit the common-citizen, or provide "...security from Terrorism".

[Gayle-Edwards]

What I love...

I wish more people would pay attention to the "International angle" of this GROSS political-manipulation.

Europe is RAILROADING this BIOMETRIC identity scheme through, over the angry protests of individual-nations, and citizens, by claiming that "...they have to do this", to comply with American-standards. And, American-politicians are claiming that WE AMERICANS have to do this in order to allow compliance with an "International" standard.

And, both sides conveniently ignore the reality that this plots primary-purpose is actually to facilitate every participating governments ability to identify, and mercilessly-track, their own citizens, both directly and through "..information sharing" agreements, which are, for the most part, rather obviously designed especially to allow various government-agencies to side-step nearly every chance for "oversight" or "legal-restrictions" upon their nearly ABSOLUTE-POWER to "..monitor" every facet of our lives.

England, is trying to shove national BIOMETRIC-IDs down their own citizens throats, right now. And, the U.S. government has already passed the "REAL-ID Act" which does the same thing to ALL "U.S. citizens".

And, NONE OF THIS will actually benefit the common-citizen, or provide "...security from Terrorism".