We've been hearing about electronic "smart" passports, which use RFID technology to create a more secure means of identification, for some time now. According to this story from CNET News.com, the U.S. State Department has started producing the new passports at the Colorado Passport Agency and plans to make all future passports electronic by October.

The sticking point for the use of RFID technology has been security issues. (Here's a frightening account of just how easily some RFID systems can be hacked) Ars Technica has a good post about how security issues have been addressed. For one thing, the RFID chip cannot be read when the passport is closed. Of course, there was some give and take in securing the passports. The RFID chip needs to be touched to a reader to be read. This will pretty much eliminate any convenience advantage which would have been gained by a more easily-read chip, and unfortunately probably won't shorten lines at passport control in the airports. — Brian Ward

Go to story from CNET News.com
Go to story from Ars Technica

Technorati tags: rfid, passports, security.