[LINK] RFID passport cards & driving licenses

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Industry Group Calls for Review of Use of EPC Gen 2 RFID in Identity 
Documents 4:20 p.m. ET Feb. 6,  2009 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29058796/


PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ - Recent headlines have confused U.S. electronic 
passports -- the passport books with the blue cover and the small gold e-
passport icon -- with the new U.S. Passport Cards and Enhanced Driver's 
Licenses already being issued as border crossing credentials by states. 

The confusion came in media reporting about security researcher Chris 
Paget, who demonstrated the ease of scanning, cloning and tracking RFID-
based U.S. Passport Cards and Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDL) in a 
YouTube video. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isKnDiJNPk

"The Smart Card Alliance wants to make it clear that this demonstration 
did not involve the blue U.S. electronic passport books," said Randy 
Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. 

"Headlines stating that passports can be scanned and tracked are wrong. 
The widely reported demonstration involved U.S. Passport Cards and 
Enhanced Driver's Licenses, which use EPC Gen 2 RFID technology. These 
are different travel documents and use completely different technologies 
from U.S. electronic passports, which use contactless smart card 
technology and are very privacy secure." 

Call for Review 

With the coming of the new administration, the Smart Card Alliance 
recommends an immediate review of the decision to use EPC Gen 2 RFID 
technology in U.S. travel documents. 

The Alliance is prepared to endorse the correct use of any technology 
that provides adequate protection of privacy and identity information. 

However, as the U.S. Passport Card and EDL programs were being defined, 
the Smart Card Alliance went on record advising against using an insecure 
EPC Gen 2 RFID solution that put the privacy and security of U.S. 
citizens' personal information at risk. 

http://www.smartcardalliance.org/pages/publications-enhanced-drivers-
licenses-statement

The Alliance Identity Council, whose members include technology providers 
of both RFID and RF-enabled contactless smart card solutions, stands 
ready to assist any government agency or department that undertakes such 
a review...

--

Cheers,
Stephen

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