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U.S. to Begin Issuing Electronic Passports |
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from SFGate.com
Entered into the database on Thursday, August 11th, 2005 @ 17:13:22 MST |
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The United States will begin issuing electronic passports in December to help
tighten border and identity security, the State Department said Tuesday. A computer chip will be embedded in passport covers and will hold the same information
that is written on the inside: name, date of birth, gender, place of birth,
dates of passport issuance and expiration, passport number and a photo. The
chip will also have a unique digital signature designed to protect the data
from tampering. The chips will have technology to prevent unauthorized reading, or "skimming,"
of the data. Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge had suggested that fingerprinting
technology be used in the high-tech passports, but that was not included. By October 2006, all U.S. passport agencies will issue the electronic passports. |
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