One More Step Toward Positive Personal Identification – US Begins Issuing Electronic Passports

The United States Department of State has begun issuing passports that contain an RFID chip that carries personal information in digital form. Other countries have done the same.  The  implementation of this technology is accompanied by a new Visa Waiver Program that bypasses the visa application process. Below is the official description of the e-passport from the State Department website.  read the rest  of the story here.  -t.h.g.

What is an Electronic Passport?

An Electronic Passport is the same as a traditional passport with the addition of a small integrated circuit (or “chip”) embedded in the back cover.  The chip stores:

• The same data visually displayed on the data page of the passport;
• A biometric identifier in the form of a digital image of the passport photograph, which will facilitate the use of face recognition technology at ports-of-entry;
• The unique chip identification number; and
• A digital signature to protect the stored data from alteration.