Saturday, October 29, 2005

US Passports to be "chipped" by October 2006

The US State Department has issued its final rules on the implementation of RFID in all US passports, beginning with those issued after October 2006. The chips will include a digitised version of the holder's photo and other information. According to the Washington Post, 98% of the comments on the proposal were against the measure, but the Department suggests that measures are being taken to minimise the risk associated with the RFID chip. The passports will include an "anti-skimming" film on the front and back covers, making it more difficult to read the chip at a distance: U.S. Passports to Receive Electronic Identification Chips.

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