E-Passport System Test This Week

An anonymous reader writes "ZDNet has a story covering another Homeland Security test of the E-Passport system, a biometric program designed to stop counterfeit identification." From the article: "The passports contain biometric information such as a digital photo, as well as biographic information. The technology being tested promises to read and verify the electronic data when those carrying the e-passports attempt entry into the countries via participating airports. U.S. diplomats, Australian and New Zealand citizens and Singapore Airlines officials are among those who have been issued the e-passports. These people will also undergo normal screening procedures at the international airports."

Just in time

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeesh, as a holder of an Australian Passport, it looks like I arrived in the US just in time to avoid being used as a guinea pig in the test, being falsely identified as a terrorist suspect when it malfunctions and being locked away for an undetermined number of years without trial ;P

oooh

[tuxette]

Remind me to buy lots of Gummi Bears at the Tax-Free Shop ;-)

Stop identification

[bobthemuse]

...a biometric program designed to stop counterfeit identification...

Yeah, we wouldn't want to stop counterfeits, or identify them. As long as we stop counterfeit identification, we can proudly announce to the nation that there are no counterfeit passports.

Re:oooh

[Dachannien]

The passports contain biometric information such as a digital photo,

I don't think they make Gummi Bears the size of your face.

Stop counterfeit identification?

[Zarxos]

...a biometric program designed to stop counterfeit identification... I guess we're doing too good of a job identifying those counterfeits right now...

Someone's got to make the easy jokes.

[Eevee]

Well, if you're Australian, then we already know you're a criminal...

Re:Great Idea - Already in use in certain areas

[Andrzej Sawicki]

I'm scared shitless.

I guess so, being the coward that you are...

Re:Someone's got to make the easy jokes.

[daliman]

Oh, come on mods, that's a joke! Mod funny!

I'm a New Zealander and I mod the sheep jokes funny :D

A man passing through Australian customs is asked if he has any criminal convictions. He responds "I didn't know it was still a requirement to get in!".

Re:Dear Americans

[Anonymous Coward]

that's OK - it works both ways, we wont require the e-passports, but we are ordering extra anal-probes to handle the um backlog

Re:Dear Americans

[TheDugong]

I DO NOT want to go/come to the USA because of the current regime (not the average septic ;o) ), however, I have still been forced to have one of these passports.

I called up the passport office to ask what would happen if I was in a foreign country and the chip failed, the answer:

"It will not happen".

I called twice, same f%&kin' answer!

I went into some detail about microwaves etc, but the monkette on the end of the phone was as dumb as dog do do, so it was a waste of time.

She did however say that

"...it can get damaged by being put through the wash...",

To which I interrupted:

Monkette: "So, it can get damaged?"

Monkette: "[Whoops mumble mumble] Only if you do the wrong thing with it. If you damaged normal passport you would have to get it replaced".

Me: "True, but I can at least see any physical damage to the passport. How can I tell if the chip is dead?"

Monkette: "They will check it before you board a flight"

Me: "So will I still be able to board?"

Monkette: "Probably not"

Me: "So, there goes my holiday?"

Monkette: "[mumble mumble]. It can't get damaged."

Me: "But you just told me it could!"

Monkette: "[Whoops mumble mumble]. You get a list of things which can damage it when you recieve it. [The End. That's the law. Tough shit. I care not.]"

F%4k You Alexander Downer! Arsehole!

From an Aussie/Pom who stupidly missed the non-epassport boat by a week(!) and ironically is going to use the passport for the first time to go to NZ.