Thursday, February 24, 2005

Do not pass go

The Economist has an interesting article about the pitfalls of modern 'smart passports' filled with biometric data.

They highlighted a number of deficiencies:
  • The data on the passports is unencrypted
  • Passports can be read remotely with cheap easy to acquire equipment, making it easier for terrorists to target Americans
  • Tests have shown that a significant number of passports do not work with readers
  • Biometric data creates a significant amount of false negative tests, creating a larger requirement for further screening