February 27, 2006

United States Department of State Begins Issuance of Electronic Passports

The Department of State has begun the phase-in process for issuing new Electronic Passports also known as the “e-passport”. On December 30, 2005, the Department of State began a pilot program, that limited production of e-passports to be issued to diplomats. The Department of State plans to begin full production and issuances of valid U.S. e-passports to the general public later this year with plans for full integration of e-passports issuances at all domestic passport agencies by the end of 2006.

Previously issued traditional passports without electronic chips will remain valid until their expiration dates and can be used for travel. The public can still apply to obtain or renew a traditional passport if they prefer, before full integration of e-passports begins. The new Electronic Passport or e-passport contains an integrated circuit (or “chip”) that is embedded in the back cover. The chip will act as a storage device for personal data. It will store the following data that is visually displayed on the data page of the passport, biometric identifiers in the form of a digital image of the passport photograph, and a unique chip identification number and a digital signature.

The purpose of the Department of State issuing the new e-passport with stored data is to prevent the problem of forged traditional passports and to improve United States border security. The technology in these new e-passports are intended to help secure and protect U.S. borders by making it easier to automatically verify the identity of individuals, which should lead to faster and more efficient immigration inspections.

Opponents of the new e-passport fear that the data stored electronically in the e-passport could become accessible to anyone, including criminals or terrorists, who could use intercepting equipment or another reader to scan the stored data on the e-passport from a distance. In a response to these privacy concerns the Department of State has adapted the e-passport to include an anti-skimming device in the passport’s front cover, and technology known as basic access control (BAC). These two adaptations will reduce the possibility of the e-passport being scanned and read from a distance, also known as skimming or eavesdropping. Other opponents believe that the new e-passport will increase the potential for domestic surveillance from the Department of State.