Privacy worries surround ID-scanning machines
November 24, 2008 by Personal Liberty News Desk
New radio frequency identification (RFID) technology that is able to read information about travelers who are crossing borders has raised concerns among privacy advocates.
The Department of Homeland Security has already installed machines that read data contained on government-issued ID cards at five border crossings, USA Today reports.
These devices work by scanning the computer chips embedded in travellers’ passports, passcards and driver’s licenses, then displaying the data on a screen for border patrol agents.
However, privacy advocates have warned that people’s personal information is at risk of being accessed by others – including terrorists – at distances of up to 50 feet.
"There’s this strange rush to a fancy of shiny new technology," Lee Tien of the Electronic Frontier Foundation told the news provider, adding that the ID cards are actually "quite vulnerable" to misuse or a data breach.
Homeland Security has suggested that the new process will be more efficient and safer than the previous system of manually checking IDs. It has also emphasized that the data on the chips are encoded.
In August, privacy concerns were raised when the government announced that it would be retaining records of Americans’ border crossings by land for a period 15 years.
Dear Bob,
I wonder how unsafe those ancient people who used to live without all of these scrutiny. Perhaps, the Revelation in the scripture of the bilble is being fulfilled.
Dear Bob,
I wonder how unsafe those ancient people who used to live without all of these scrutiny. Perhaps, the Revelation in the scripture of the bible is being fulfilled.
One month after the twin towers went down, I suggested a system to Washington D.C. that would handle airport security in one ssytem as well as all other borders and internal traffic as well.
The difference about the proposed system and all others is it is designed to protect the privacy of one’s identity and keep access bound by existing privacy laws of today and the warrant system in place.
Congress is well aware of this solution as is the press who has never looked into the matter.
Sane American – keep on approacing others about your ideas.
FYI: Passive RFID technology is not new but it will probably be the roadway to the Bible’s saying that you will not be able to buy without the mark of the Beast. If you refuse a chip (or the system that is behind the chip) then you can’t buy or sell. It is like trying to get money out of the bank when your account is closed. You can get nothing!
The RFID can ’share your info’ with others if not handled right.
A passive RFID will not transmit any information unless is receives energy from a device that polls it. The polling transmitter’s energy is stored in the RFID chip and the chip responds to the polling device by transmitting the information requested. They don’t just transmit unless they have the right polling information sent to them.
With proper security built into the chips program then it will only respond to the right ‘key’ data to unlock it.