As of yesterday (14 August 2006), the U.S. Department of State is issuing passports containing an RFID chip. They are claimed to have anti-skimming provisions, but these are of dubious worth. The big threat isn’t so much that the bad guys can identify specific U.S. citizens, but that they will be able to distinguish U.S. citizens from others. This will make U.S. citizens more susceptible to kidnapping and other attacks. And the addition of the RFID chip does not actually improve security of U.S. citizens of of the country in any way. It is a way to spend more taxpayer’s money on a boondoggle, and harm them in the process.
According to “The U.S. Electronic Passport Frequently Asked Questions“, if the chip fails the passport is still valid until its normal expiration date. I expect that it won’t be long before there are published instructions on how to “encourage” the chip in one’s passport to fail. Note that alteration or mutilation of a U.S. passport is prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 1543, and is punishable by fine or imprisonment.
U.S. now issuing passports that endanger citizens
As of yesterday (14 August 2006), the U.S. Department of State is issuing passports containing an RFID chip. They are claimed to have anti-skimming provisions, but these are of dubious worth. The big threat isn’t so much that the bad guys can identify specific U.S. citizens, but that they will be able to distinguish U.S. citizens from others. This will make U.S. citizens more susceptible to kidnapping and other attacks. And the addition of the RFID chip does not actually improve security of U.S. citizens of of the country in any way. It is a way to spend more taxpayer’s money on a boondoggle, and harm them in the process.
According to “The U.S. Electronic Passport Frequently Asked Questions“, if the chip fails the passport is still valid until its normal expiration date. I expect that it won’t be long before there are published instructions on how to “encourage” the chip in one’s passport to fail. Note that alteration or mutilation of a U.S. passport is prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 1543, and is punishable by fine or imprisonment.