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."

Great Idea - Already in use in certain areas

[Nerd Systems]

I've had encounters with similar systems to this E-Passport just recently on my honeymoon cruise. My wife and I were each issued a "Sea Pass" card, which didn't have our picture on it, but had our names printed on it, and a magnetic swipe. Whenever we wanted to buy anything on the ship, we would swipe our card and it would identify us and no cash was needed throughout the entire cruise. For shore excursions, we swiped our cards as we left, and it noted that we no longer were on the boat, keeping track of everyone out on shore excursions and what not. On our return, we swiped our cards, it pulled up for the security guard our information as well as a picture, which he was able to verify our identity with, and let us back on the boat. I'm glad for this, as it stops people from trying to steal those cards, as they are useless if your not the same person, and since the data is stored in a central registry, can't be easily falsified, like a current passport could be. I like the idea of an E-Passport, as it can guarantee a person's identity a lot more easily then a traditional passport, which can be forged easily enough these days with all the technology out there, as well as making travel safer in foreign countries, as well as for our own country. I can't wait though for them to implement something such as an RFID tag inside of these, so we can just walk through customs, having it tally up all our items purchased, collecting duties as we walk, and have the whole ordeal be a lot less painless, instead of having to wait in long lines while you get questioned over and over... would be nice to just have the RFID tag identify you as you go through a turnstile, and have that be the end of customs... Either way, this is going to make travel a lot easier and safer...

Problem is...

[Tavor]

The biometric chip may be ultra-hard to forge, but the human element attached to it isn't. Remember the T-Mobile hacking incident with celeberties? It wasn't the hardware at fault, but the hardware's human masters. There will be a human making these passports, typing in the name, and writing the info to the chip. If the human is given bad information (Drivers License, Birth Cert, etc,) the information written to the chip will be bad, and voila - system failed: forged info on the chip. Even if the fingerprints and iris scans are correct, the name will be wrong and terror watch lists consist mosty of names and pictures - we all know how reliable that can be.

Re:Problem is...

[tuxette]

It's not just that. All it takes is for someone with a sick sense of humor or otherwise disgruntled employee to fuck with the data. You know, switch thing here and there... and we're all screwed...

Mod parent "scary", please!

[Anonymous Coward]

Exactly the reason why I would NOT want this!

Re:Dear Americans

[Anonymous Coward]

Going from Ireland to the US you currently have to get a retina scan taken and recorded and a finger print done and also recorded. (of course no mention of how long this data will be retained for is given, most likely permanently (or atleast until the next revolution)). On top of that the assholes doing the privacy invasion charge you for the privilege.

Land of the free...

Re:Great Idea - Already in use in certain areas

[Stiletto]

I hope you meant:

John Q. Doe
1234 North Oak Lane
Los Angeles, CA
(123)-456-7890

Work contact:
5666 Johnson Industrial Park
Los Angeles, CA
(123)-098-7654

[PHOTO HERE]

Filed credit card 1# 2345 9999 1234 0543 Exp 04/09
Filed credit card 2# 1555 4599 9876 1234 Exp 05/10

Drivers licence number: D520 302216004

Bought 4 steaks
Left the ship at 3AM and came back at 7AM
Has a 4 week cruise package
Teenage daughter is often alone in her room (number 45)

[Click here to charge something to customer's account]

You don't actually think some random company operating these oh-so-convenient card swipers is actually responsible with your data do you? You should be scared shitless.

Re:NZ Passports Lack Encryption

[daliman]

The exact quote from my exchange

Me: is the transmitted information encrypted en route or is it sent in the clear?

DIA: When information is transmitted between the passport and the reader the information is transferred in the clear although physical shielding is employed to minimise the risk of eavesdropping.