U.S. Opposed Passport Privacy Protections

[Khephra]

U.S. Opposed Passport Privacy Protections

LESLIE MILLER

Associated Press


WASHINGTON - The Bush administration opposed security measures for new microchip-equipped passports that privacy advocates contended were needed to prevent identity theft, government snooping or a terror attack, according to State Department documents released Friday.

The passports, scheduled to be issued by the end of 2005, could be read electronically from as far away as 30 feet, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which obtained the documents under a Freedom of Information Act request.

Though the passports wouldn't include transmitters of their own, they would have antennas to allow a reader to capture the data.

The ability to read remotely, or "skim," personal data raises the possibility that passport holders would be vulnerable to identity theft, the ACLU said. It also would allow government agents to find out covertly who was attending a political meeting or make it easier for terrorists to target Americans traveling abroad, the ACLU said.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10278815.htm?1c

[Nordic]

1. Well I'm getting my passport before then

Can you rip those fucking things out of the passport somehow?

[Ima]

4. No

if the chip is gone, they will probably invalidate the passport.

[SoCalDem]

5. Every citizen should have a passport anyway

If we all had passports, there would be no "issue" when we registered to vote... In fact all you should NEED in order to vote IS a passport and a current electric/phone/gas bill in your name to prove your street address (so that you were in proper precinct)..

"registration" should be unnecessary.. It's an artificial hurdle.

If the ACLU/NAACP and other minority groups had any brains, they would dpen the next 2 years paying for and getting passports for all the people who have problems voting every stinking election..

It would probably be cheaper that all the litigation and advertising and the GOTV registration drives..

[DeepModem Mom]

2. kick

[Khephra]

3. kick