Coming to Your Pocket: A Terrorist Beacon? (Passports RFID)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1782698,00.asp

What do you suppose our enemies would pay for a device capable of identifying all the Americans walking down the street in a foreign city? And why might the U.S. Department of State be making such a weapon possible?

We're talking about a plan to embed RFID (radio-frequency identification) chips into U.S. passports, which the State Department claims will help swoosh U.S. citizens through border crossings. The Washington Post says the RFID chip will include all the printed information from the passport along with an enhanced photograph of the passport holder, useful for photo recognition.

The State Department claims the RFID data will be readable only out to a distance of about four inches. It plans to begin issuing new passports using the technology to diplomats starting in August. (You have to give these people credit for eating their own dog food.)

<snip>

Here's the problem: To find the Americans in a crowd, a terrorist wouldn't need to "read" the information contained in the passport. If only Americans are carrying RFID passports, then all a terrorist need do is determine whether the device exists. A simple "wanding" by an RFID receiver would be enough to find the U.S. passport holders at close range.

[bullimiami]

1. time for sheilded passport cases

or just keep your rfid enabled stuff wrapped in tin foil.
take them out when you need them.

[dbeach]

2. Any actions taken by busheviks sem to benefit them and ruin USA

Ron Paul is only one speaking out against this patsy act insanity

sacrificing LIBERTY for security..will only lead to more edicts of bushland...
but rich will have a chipped population..reasdy for their bidding

thanx bush for 1984 in the USA ..

An NG deserter has 2 terms...what a patriot he is..

[leveymg]

3. Wile E.Coyote, Genius. Super Genius, Gov't Contractor?

Note the term "readable", not detectable.

Any radio source is detectable -- even the tiniest, even a billion miles away -- can be detected if you have a powerful enough receiver. How do think NASA can read half-watt signals from planetary probes?

Like nuclear-powered aircraft - just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should be.

:tinfoilhat: :think: :freak: :dunce: