Department of State - Rolling out the E-Passport

RFID Law Journal
Newsletter No. 5
September 2, 2006

The U.S. Department of State is scheduled to roll out its e-Passport initiative in October, 2006. The State Department has already deployed e-Passports to U.S. diplomats, and this e-initiative can be interpreted as running in parallel to the DHS initiatives impacting inbound travelers from 27 countries.

The electronic Passport contains a small, contactless integrated circuit embedded in the back cover to securely store the same information typically displayed on the photo page of the passport. It also includes a digital photo, enabling biometric comparisons, and incorporating additional anti-fraud and security features. There is a grandfather provision for existing passports enabling their continued use through their original expiration dates.

You can access the final rule at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-21284.htm.

You can review comments on the rule at http://travel.state.gov/passport/eppt/passport_comments.pho.

For more information about security and privacy implications, see “Security and Privacy Issues in E-Passports” at http://eprint.iacr.org/2005/095.pdf.

Relevant testimony is set forth at:

http://hsgac.senate.gov/files/FMossHearingonGAOReport054771final1.pdf.
http://hsc.house.gov/files/TestimonyMoss.pdf.

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