US travel data system criticised (chips in passports, etc.)

[Dover]

US travel data system criticised

A leader of the coming Democratic congress is among those concerned about US government systems that collect data on the movements of travellers.

Patrick Leahy, incoming senate judiciary chairman, promised more scrutiny of government database-mining projects after reading that millions of Americans have been evaluated without their knowledge.

"“Data banks like this are overdue for oversight," said Leahy. "That is going to change in the new congress."

Americans and foreigners crossing US borders since 2002 have been assessed by US homeland security's computerised Automated Targeting System, or ATS...cont'd

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7C59786C-9362-4C6C-AEA2-93B8D57B59CC.htm

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Applied for a passport lately?

Electronic Passports

The proposed U.S. Electronic Passport is the same as a regular passport with the addition of a small contactless integrated circuit (computer chip) embedded in the back cover. The chip will securely store the same data visually displayed on the photo page of the passport, and will additionally include a digital photograph. The inclusion of the digital photograph will enable biometric comparison, through the use of facial recognition technology at international borders. The U.S. “e-passport” will also have a new look, incorporating additional anti-fraud and security features.

Passports without chips will still be valid for the full extent of their validity period.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/eppt/eppt_2498.html

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Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
August 14, 2006

Department of State Begins Issuing Electronic Passports to the Public


To enhance border security and to facilitate travel, the Department of State began issuing Electronic Passports (e-passports) to the public today. Production has started at the Colorado Passport Agency and will be expanded to other production facilities over the next few months.

Consistent with globally interoperable specifications adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), this next generation of the U.S. passport includes biometric technology. A contactless chip in the rear cover of the passport will contain the same data as that found on the biographic data page of the passport (name, date of birth, gender, place of birth, dates of passport issuance and expiration, passport number), and will also include a digital image of the bearer’s photograph.


The Department of State has employed a multi-layered approach to protect the privacy of the information and to mitigate the chances of the electronic data being skimmed (unauthorized reading) or eavesdropped (intercepting communication of the transmission of data between the chip and the reader by unintended recipients). Metallic anti-skimming material incorporated into the front cover and spine of the e-passport book prevents the chip from being skimmed, or read, when the book is fully closed; Basic Access Control (BAC) technology, which requires that the data page be read electronically to generate a key that unlocks the chip, will prevent skimming and eavesdropping; and a randomized unique identification (RUID) feature will mitigate the risk that an e-passport holder could be tracked. To prevent alteration or modification of the data on the chip, and to allow authorities to validate and authenticate the data, the information on the chip will include an electronic signature (PKI).


The Department of State is confident that the new e-passport, including biometrics and other improvements, will take security and travel facilitation to a new level.


For more information about the Electronic Passport, please visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website at http://travel.state.gov.

[Hekate]

1. More creepy stuff from Big Brother. What will they do to you if the chip fails?

I mean, it could happen -- magnets, microwaves -- oops.

Hekate

[krispos42]

2. Gitmo, 'cuz the Presidental 8-ball sez you're a terrorist. Pack sunscreen!

[symbolman]

3. Gee

what if you went for a swim and forgot you had your passport in your swim trunks, and then when a boat came to save you, you sat right down there next to a Boat Magnet (which can pull up a boat motor from the bottom of the sea, very powerful) and then someone STEPPED on your passport when you were trying to dry it with a very warm hair dryer, especially that really wet little spot on the back cover?

I would hope they'd make it stronger than the chips in CARS which bust ALL the time at great expense, because computer chips aren't supposed to get WET, COLD, HOT, etc, all the places a car goes.. or a tourist.

Stupid idea, I hope that Leahey shitcans it..

You want to be SCANNED, then YOU should have that CHOICE in a FREE COUNTRY.

[NotGivingUp]

4. right-wing nuts will say this is for our safety