US to launch RFID passports on Monday
http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/12/us-to-launch-rfid-passports-on-monday/
Posted Aug 12th 2006 2:10PM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Transportation,
Wireless
Despite the various
privacy
concerns that have been repeatedly raised in regards to e-passports,
the US is going ahead with their
plans
to launch the system this Monday. Not all newly-issued passports will
be RFID-enabled, since mass production has been held up by the ongoing
legal dispute over the technology. The first passports to be issued
will be those produced during the pilot run of the project, but the
full roll-out should be completed in about a year. Including the extra
$12 security surcharge slapped onto passports last year, the new and
"improved" models will cost $97, the same as they do currently. If
you're overly concerned about the security implications or potential
apocalypse causation, you might want to nab a passport now, since
traditional passports will be valid until their listed expiration date.
We'll manage like usual: hills, tin-foil, condensed milk, etc.
|