American Passports to Have RFID Chips

pr1000 writes "Wired is reporting that the State Department is planned on adding RFID chips to new American passports, starting with diplomat's passports in January. Those worried about the privacy concerns of RFID should take notice, as this rollout could set a precedent."

As a precedent to?

[joelethan]

October 2005: The State Department announced it was going to add RFID chips to all new Americans.

And you thought it was just a Vitamin K shot.

/joelethan

Renewals?

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't know the requirements to renew passports, but if the same book is used constantly, that would mean that all the tinfoil hatters would need to get their passports before January... oh wait, that would mean they would have to be subject to the government... nevermind, they're buried out in Montana in a cave with an internet connection, they'll never have to worry about this.

øllebrød

[Hafnia]

As echelon evolves and RFID's go everywhere, soon You'll have to walk around naked if You want privacy.

Re:Failure

[Hadlock]

Exactly! I mean, I've been known to toss my passport in the microwave with my easy mac from time to time - if that RFID tag gets toasted, it's not my fault!

Nudity

[JNighthawk]

It's funny. Nudist colonies say they have nothing to hide, but now they'll be the only place *to* hide.

Re:Or, on the other hand for target selection

[polysylabic psudonym]

Come on! Like you need RFID to spot the American tourist!

Re:Simple solution

[maxwell demon]

Or just carry your passport in your tinfoil hat.

Re:As a precedent to?

[BottleCup]

All your babies are belong to us.

Re:War on Terrorism

[tuxette]

American citizens are warned regularly to be inconspicuous when overseas.

Being warned is one thing. But until they ban the sale of bright white sneakers, baseball caps, and fanny packs, one can pick out an American tourist any day.

Not a problem...

[ForestGrump]

I'll just microwave my passport like I do with my cash. [prisonplanet.com]

Grump

I, for one...

[bwd234]

welcome our new RFID overlords.

Re:Not a problem...

[xSauronx]

in regards to the parents sig:

keep microwaving your money, and youll always be looking for a wife.

It helps save all the troubles involved in

[forgotten_my_nick]

Kidnapping Americans. Sometimes you grab a European and they get all whiney about it. Now you only have to scan for an RFID tag and hey presto you can pick yourself up an American with a lot less hassle.

Silver lining:

[Anonymous Coward]

You've got to be more positive.

Look at it this way, if you accidently went to Detroit, the cops would still be able to identify your body even if your passport was completely soaked through with your blood.

Re:Or, on the other hand for target selection

[SenseiLeNoir]

DISCLIAMER: I do like Americans in general, and i have a lot of american frineds, who are friendly, respectful, and people who i would hold dear.

The "worst" American tourist, is the oil rich, no brain texan with the loud hat, louder belly, and even louder mouth.

I had a particularly intresting time a couple of months ago, with a particular specimen of Texan "mouth power". I was on the London underground heading to work, and there was a loud texan onboard, and he was ranting abotu how things were a lot "bigger" back home, to the absolute annoyance of all the other passengers on board (including his poor wife, who seemed a nice lady).

anyway, he comes up to me and asks me:
"Son, tell me now, what "tube" do i have to catch to go to Manchester"

now, here is a few facts for those not from UK/London.
- the Tube is our nickname for the London Underground, our subway/metro/transit.
- It covers ONLY london. nowhere else.
-Manchester is another city altogether.. like New York and Los Angeles
- there is a big ass advert in the train that he was looking at, which talks about day trips to manchester, and HOW to do it!?!?

most of the people on board were like, WTF? is this guy real...

I simply told him, "Stay on this train for about 4 hours, and it will reach manchester!"

What i didnt tell him, was the train in concern is the "Circle Line" which simply runs around london in a loop!!!!! {EVIL GRIN}

The smiles on the rest of the passengers were certainly a picture.. as was the way he was thanking me for my "advise", and was the last thing i saw... as i got off at the next station!

I had a dream. . .

[Fantastic Lad]

that my leg was hurting. I had this zit-like sore. When I looked at, a light started blinking under the skin.

Horrified, I dug out the offending material. It was one of those RFID chips the "Size of a grain of rice", --but in my dream it was more the size of a glass bean. It was also filled with lots of scary techno-bits and pieces whirring and blinking inside. Special effects in dream scapes tend to be a little over the top.

Heil Shrub.

-FL

Patient Selection

[nurb432]

Since they are going to start tagging sick people in hospitals, you can ID them pretty easy too.. even without a passport.

Oh, and special forces, they have had them for some time now to aid in "extraction". Um perhaps i wasnt supposed to reveal that.. Hmm someone at the door..*click*

Re:Failure

[viktor]

[...]unless you start wrapping foil around your wallet. But that would beat the purpose of the RF in RFID

And here I was, thinking that "RF" meant "wRapped in Foil"...

Re:Law Enforcement

[vettemph]

ultra-sensitive focussed RFID reader

Is that a Pringles can in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Re:Or, on the other hand for target selection

[Colonel Cholling]

The "worst" American tourist, is the oil rich, no brain texan with the loud hat, louder belly, and even louder mouth.

I'll thank you not to refer to our President as a "tourist."

Re:The Terrorist Bomber's Dream!

[Anonymous Coward]

density of American citizens

I thought this was infinite...