by staff

ACLU

04/04/05

The American Civil Liberties Union hereby comments on and formally opposes the Department of State's proposed rule creating 'electronic passports' by including radio frequency identification chips (RFIDs) in US passports. The proposed rule is outlined at 70 Fed. Reg. 8305-8309, 'Electronic Passports,' RIN 1400-A893. These chips compromise Americans' privacy, expose them to danger from terrorists and criminals and provide a limited security benefit. Instead, US passports standards should employ a contact chip -- one that can only be read through contact between a reader and chip. This solution would mitigate many of the concerns raised below and better serve the privacy and security interests of US passport holders...

http://www.aclu.org/Privacy/Privacy.cfm?ID=17926&c=130


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp