NYT: New High-Tech Passports Raise Snooping Concerns

[DeepModem Mom]

New High-Tech Passports Raise Snooping Concerns
By MATTHEW L. WALD

Published: November 26, 2004


WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 - The State Department will soon begin issuing passports that carry information about the traveler in a computer chip embedded in the cardboard cover as well as on its printed pages.

Privacy advocates say the new format - developed in response to security concerns after the Sept. 11 attacks - will be vulnerable to electronic snooping by anyone within several feet, a practice called skimming. Internal State Department documents, obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union under the Freedom of Information Act, show that Canada, Germany and Britain have raised the same concern.

"This is like putting an invisible bull's-eye on Americans that can be seen only by the terrorists," said Barry Steinhardt, the director of the A.C.L.U. Technology and Liberty Program. "If there's any nation in the world at the moment that could do without such a device, it is the United States."

The organization wants the State Department to take security precautions like encrypting the data, so that even if it is downloaded by unauthorized people, it cannot be understood.

In a telephone interview, Frank E. Moss, deputy assistant secretary of state for passport services, said the skimming problem "can be dealt with."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/26/politics/26passport.html?hp&ex=1101445200&en=a8c758f25595ac78&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Emily Jane]

1. Big Brother anyone? nt

[SpiralHawk]

2. Oh yes, the problems can be dealt with. Will be dealt with

Big Brother's step by step encroachment is accelerating.

[Ima]

3. Is the chip next?