RFID Passports Worry Me

Posted by Bridget Lux Nov 27, 2006

There is no doubt in my mind that in the very near future, I’m going to be watching a movie where an RFID passport – the new passport with radio frequency identification – is going to be featured, and not in a good way. It’ll be a James Bond or “Bourne Identity” type film where a hacker, maybe, will steal someone’s identity or a terrorist will set it up so that when a U.S. passport goes by, a small bomb goes off. Yeah, the RFID passport is definitely not going to be seen in a favorable light.

The scary part, however, is that it doesn’t feel like fiction. I mean, I’m not the paranoid type, but I do feel like it’s only a matter of time before my identity is stolen. Granted, the thief isn’t going to make himself rich by stealing my identity, but no matter who you are, having your identity stolen wreaks massive havoc on your life. Nobody needs that.

In a couple of years, most international travelers are going to have RFID passports. These “smart” passports, as they’re called, are supposed to streamline security screening at airports, borders, etc. However, there have been several reports about hackers cracking the codes and many groups have warned about identity theft and privacy issues. The U.S. government, as well as other governments, however, seems unconcerned. They’re moving ahead, presumably thinking that the reward outweighs the risks.

I’m not so sure. And if and when my identity is ever stolen because of these new “smart” passports, how helpful do I think the U.S. government will be then?