U.S. Passport Security Measures, Concerns About Privacy, Causing Glut at State Department
US Customs and Border Protection says the deadline for land entry without a passport is extended until the end of 2007. Some people are applying for passports now to avoid the RFID chip that will be embedded in their passports if they wait until October this year.
The rush for new passports has slowed processing at the State Department. Last year a State Department press release stated that the National Passport Information Center had expanded its live customer service line by five hours.
“There has already been an increase in applications,” said a Postal Passport Acceptance Clerk, who requested anonymity. “Routine processing usually takes six weeks. Now it’s taking up to eight. Many more people than last year are applying.”
The clerk said the chip could be a reason for the increase in applications since some people have asked if it is already being installed. The clerk said there has been a lot of confusion from the public as to when the chips will be installed in every U.S. passport.
“People are asking when. We weren’t sure ourselves.” The clerk added. “I heard about it on the news.” The chips are already being installed now in some passports prior to the deadline.
New passports will include a chip holding travelers’ biographical data in addition to a biometric feature for facial recognition. The new measures comply with the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act (EBSA) signed into law by President Bush in 2002.
Some people not planning travel any time soon are considering applying for their passports now to avoid the chip.
“I don’t trust the security of the chip against terrorists who might target me as an American abroad by reading my chip,” said Rico, who requested his last name not be used. Rico plans on applying for his first-ever passport within the month.
Rico, who has no current travel plans, says it is worth spending the money now in case he gets an opportunity to travel abroad in the next ten years; the validity period for adult passports. He said he approves of the extra security the chip and biometrics might provide at borders because of the facial recognition software that ensures the traveler’s documents have not been altered. However, he is currently more concerned about his personal privacy until the security of the chip has been proven.
Erlien B., a foster mother who hopes to travel abroad someday, says she has reservations about the security of the chip and wonders what safeguards will be in place against use of the chip for identity theft by someone using a reader illegally.
A January 13, 2006 Department of Homeland Security press release stated that new passports issued in the fall will be enabled with Basic Access Control (BAC), which will help prevent hacking of information from passport chips. The State Department says the chip antenna can only be read from up to four inches away.
“Someone might steal my passport to commit crimes or make threats against me because of information on the chip,” Erlien said. She added she would rather have the chip than written information that everyone could see; “As long as they [airport security] don’t gamble with it and they do check everyone instead of randomly.”
Small business owner, Randy Botts, from California, says he wholeheartedly approves of the new security requirements for passports because of the biometrics.
“We have to get a handle on who is entering our country. Passports will be harder to fake.” Botts already has his passport but said that if he didn’t he would not rush to beat the October deadline. While he thinks the potential for terrorist access to information on passports is a “downside” he said, “security measures will most likely guard against that possibility.”
“I worry about hackers,” said San Francisco area resident, Steve F. I don’t like the idea of chips. There is always technological espionage.” Steve said he would get his passport before October to avoid the chip.
For passport information go to www.travel.state.gov
