RFID+US Passport?

October 27, 2005 8:43 AM

RFID+US Passport? By October 2006, the U.S. government will require nearly all of the passports it issues to include a computer chip containing the passport holder's personal information...
posted by yoga (41 comments total)

Great. So it will work like an oyster card and I can avoid having to hand it to some humorless homie (homeland security bureaucrat) everytime I cross the border. I can just touch in and touch out.
posted by three blind mice at 8:50 AM on October 27, 2005

Eheh and when you reach the customs you'll be recorded as Mr 19.95 from Aisle A , Department Adult Toys.

Of course the terrorist ones will read "evul terrorist" ..yeah right sure why not.
posted by elpapacito at 8:50 AM on October 27, 2005

3bmice: nah the humorless bureocrat you're referring to is most probably a rent-a-cop , whose knowledge of how computers works rivals only one-week-mcses.

So my dear, prepare for the cavity !
posted by elpapacito at 8:52 AM on October 27, 2005

I can just touch in and touch out.

You seen the new USVISIT machines in airports? They already do that with exit-immigration (emigration?).
posted by Pollomacho at 8:56 AM on October 27, 2005

elpacito, the passport control dudes are Department of Homeland Security. They scan in the bar code anyway so I don't see any difference with an RFID circuit other than it might speed my freedom loving self through the line faster.
posted by three blind mice at 8:57 AM on October 27, 2005

Great. So now the terrorist sporting an RFID reader can walk around Africa looking for US passports that respond to his ping, and thus find that one USian to kidnap and behead for some great press for the cause.

Please tell me there is some technology to thwart this? Maybe something as simple as foil-lined passport covers?
posted by teece at 8:59 AM on October 27, 2005

teece, RFID is a very short range technology. With the Oyster Card on the London Underground you have to put the card right up against the reader.

Americans abroad - by their dress, voice, and attitude - give themselves away from a much much further distance.
posted by three blind mice at 9:02 AM on October 27, 2005

Nice use of the scare ellipsis.
posted by goatdog at 9:02 AM on October 27, 2005

So what happens when a defective RFID chip is encountered? Indefinite detention while your identity is verified?
posted by amro at 9:02 AM on October 27, 2005

elpacito, the passport control dudes are Department of Homeland Security.

Yeah, I think you are confusing customs and immigration (run by CBP) with the baggage screeners (run by TSA).

Great. So now the terrorist sporting an RFID reader can walk around Africa looking for US passports that respond to his ping, and thus find that one USian to kidnap and behead for some great press for the cause.

Um, first off, RFID is readable at all of 5 feet so these somehow technologically advanced terrorists are going to have to have one heck of a great scanner and a lot of luck to spot the gringo in all of Africa no less. Next off, it's not just going to go into American passports, it's going to be every nation with the level of technology high enough to do this.
posted by Pollomacho at 9:04 AM on October 27, 2005

So what happens when a defective RFID chip is encountered? Indefinite detention while your identity is verified?

Yes, for that indefinite period that it would take for the CBP officer to type your name and birthdate into the computer.
posted by Pollomacho at 9:07 AM on October 27, 2005

Did anyone read the article? This is about the final decision, which addresses most of the concerns raised by the EFF and others when the original proposal was floated.
posted by smackfu at 9:09 AM on October 27, 2005

Pollomacho, is there any possibility that a defective chip would raise a suspicion of a counterfeit passport? Or would it be clear that it is simply a defective chip?
posted by amro at 9:11 AM on October 27, 2005

Even if you were shown as a terr-ist on their list, all that would happen to you at the initial line would be that they would pull you to "secondary screening" over there they would manually type your info into all the different databases and they'd quickly find out you weren't who the chip said you were. The problem would come in that this would happen every time you came in, so it would be a pain in the ass.

Personally there is someone with my name on a watch list so I get this sort of run around about 75% of the time I go to the airport or into any secure areas for work. I have discovered that if I add my middle initial when I buy tickets I don't get the evil eye so much.
posted by Pollomacho at 9:18 AM on October 27, 2005

"Did anyone read the article?"

Best laugh I've had all week. No one ever reads the articles. Hell, we're lucky if 10% of the commenters read the entire post itself. Welcome to NewsFilter.
posted by mischief at 9:19 AM on October 27, 2005

They scan in the bar code anyway...

What I find interesting is that the last time I entered the US, they didn't scan the barcode. Instead, they OCR'd the text on the bottom of the inside cover.
posted by smackfu at 9:23 AM on October 27, 2005

They've already scanned your retinas and the bumps on your scull by the time you get to the desk anyway, so what does it matter.
posted by Pollomacho at 9:26 AM on October 27, 2005

teece, RFID is a very short range technology

Its a passive radio "reflector", and thus is powered from the radio field detecting it. What if you beam more energy at it, and use a better return antenna? What if you only need to "identify" the presence of a certain class RFID, rather than read it?

CNET: RFID tags: Big Brother in small packages

> Eric Blossom, a veteran radio engineer, said it would not be difficult to build a beefier transmitter and a more sensitive receiver that would make the range far greater. "I don't see any problem building a sensitive receiver," Blossom said. "It's well-known technology, particularly if it's a specialty item where you're willing to spend five times as much."
posted by dand at 9:26 AM on October 27, 2005

Now people of other countries will be able to tell that the Canadian flag on your backpack is just misdirection.
posted by srboisvert at 10:17 AM on October 27, 2005

I'm glad it's passive, but doesn't that mean that it's still readable? I can envision a few people with readers just strolling slowly past a crowd of tourists waiting on line somewhere (to get into a museum or attraction, etc), and just grabbing everyone's info--they can decrypt it later.
posted by amberglow at 10:29 AM on October 27, 2005

Its a passive radio "reflector", and thus is powered from the radio field detecting it. What if you beam more energy at it, and use a better return antenna? What if you only need to "identify" the presence of a certain class RFID, rather than read it?

dand, it is not a linear problem. The radar equation explains that the power reflected drops by the inverse of the distance squared. A device designed to be read at distance of centimeters would have to be massively scaled to be read at meters. Reading a RFID card at a distance of 100 meters would require a transmitter 10,000 times more powerful or a receiving antenna 10,000 times as big. The transmitted power can only be so strong before the circuit - or the person carrying it - would be fried. It's an issue in theory, but in practice I think you would see a terrorist walking around with a 10m parabola antenna before he sees you.
posted by three blind mice at 10:44 AM on October 27, 2005

I have got to get into the lead-shielded passport case market before it's too late.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:46 AM on October 27, 2005

Just wrap your passport in aluminium foil when you're not going through customs and immigration. Keeps you safe from Teh Evul Radio Eyez, and makes said passport shiny too!

No, I don't think this is a good idea, but it is easily protected against.
posted by 5MeoCMP at 10:51 AM on October 27, 2005

This is a really really bad idea.
posted by bshort at 11:03 AM on October 27, 2005

They've already scanned your retinas and the bumps on your scull by the time you get to the desk anyway, so what does it matter .

"scull" is spelled skull.

as in numb-skull. typical allimentive non-deferential suave comment.
posted by lalochezia at 11:15 AM on October 27, 2005

Thanks, it was really important that the spelling of that one word in my smart-assed comment be corrected.
posted by Pollomacho at 11:21 AM on October 27, 2005

Your passport needs a tin foil hat.
posted by -harlequin- at 11:23 AM on October 27, 2005

Pollomacho writes "so it would be a pain in the ass."

literally maybe.
posted by Mitheral at 11:24 AM on October 27, 2005

Your passport needs a tin foil hat.

Wouldn't a stylish knitted lead mesh toque work better?
posted by PurplePorpoise at 11:27 AM on October 27, 2005

I like the US border control at the bridge in Laredo TX. They ask Anglos, "are you a citizen?" you say yes and you're on your way. What I don't like is if you are Latino (or other non white person) that has been an US citizen since 1776 you're asked to produce ID, what you were doing in Mexico and a bunch of questions like town of birth, what they do for work, etc.
posted by birdherder at 11:30 AM on October 27, 2005

I think some people are missing the point. Even if the RFID tag can only be read from 5ft, there are PLENTY of opportunities to get within 5 ft. of a person with a reader. Imagine setting up a reader at the enterance to a store, now you will be able to track those who come and go. Even if the RFID does not contain personal information in clear text, it certainly provides a unique id which with the addition of a cheap camera one could at the very least easily coorelate to an image.
posted by lucasks at 12:03 PM on October 27, 2005

I have discovered that if I add my middle initial when I buy tickets I don't get the evil eye so much.
posted by Pollomacho at 6:18 PM CET on October 27 [!]

ROFL ! Ahahahahah oh good god lordie lord fuckety fuck !

I just heard from Dept of Homerland security that they terrist don't have middle names, so we're safe ! Also all terrorist always use illegal fake passports because they fear their never spoiled untouched legal passport could be....illegal :)
posted by elpapacito at 12:06 PM on October 27, 2005

teece, RFID is a very short range technology

RFID is readable at all of 5 feet so

The State Department's original plan was to use active RFID, whch they claimed had a range of only 10cm. After NIST's tests proved that active RFID could in fact be read from 30 feet, State was forced to go back to the drawing table. This new plan uses passive RFID, a technology which has already been proven readable at 69 feet.

At least Plan B finally added some encryption and anti-skimming measures, but this is still a plan with serious flaws yet to be resolved.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 12:17 PM on October 27, 2005

This new plan uses passive RFID, a technology which has already been proven readable at 69 feet

Ironic that they did away with active transmitters due to security concern of being read at a greater distance, yet the passive ones offer more potential for remote detection as the exciter is not built in ;)

Plan B finally added some encryption

How strong can encryption be if thousands of readers are to be installed at passport checkpoints to instantly decode your personal info (name and travel history)? Probably at least as secure as encrypted wi-fi and voting machines, huh.
posted by dand at 1:30 PM on October 27, 2005

Shouldn't be too much longer and they'll start chipping you all at birth, just like pets.
posted by Mitheral at 1:31 PM on October 27, 2005

I'll bet if you microwave your passport the little RFID will pop it's brains out.
posted by roue at 2:10 PM on October 27, 2005

I'll bet if you microwave your passport the little RFID will pop it's brains out.

And then you'll probably have an invalid or (if they're not feeling so nice) illegally altered passport.
posted by oaf at 3:58 PM on October 27, 2005

I love all the maginot line - action at a distance - ideas the desk jockies have.
Yeah. This'll totally stop the problem.

Coming out of Mexico one day I had a one box of (unlabled, open) cigars. The guy who opened my bag looked at them and said "we might have a problem"

I wasn't smuggling anything (not a big Cuban fan, I like CAOs), but I was in a hurry.

I slipped him $20 and said "will this take care of our problem?"
Mr. Jackon solved that problem quite nicely in fact.



But yeah, these tags will put a stop all that stuff. And everything will be alright from then on.
posted by Smedleyman at 6:49 PM on October 27, 2005

This is why I maintain my citizenship in Freedonia.
posted by neuron at 7:05 PM on October 27, 2005

Seriously though, wrap your passport in tinfoil...
posted by kuatto at 12:03 AM on October 28, 2005

There are always micronations passports like the World Service Authority or Sealand, or the United Republic of Arlberg.
I suspect you'd do better off with a WSA passport than any other though.
posted by Smedleyman at 4:55 AM on October 28, 2005