Concerns raised over U.K. ePassport warranties

While passing on the extended warranty usually isn't that bad of an idea for most products, when it comes to something as vital as a passport, you might as well bite the bullet and spring for it, just to have that extra peace of mind. Unfortunately, according to the BBC, it seems that officials in the U.K. realized this a little too late, and they're now stuck handing out spiffy new ePassports that have only a two-year warranty on the microchips that make 'em tick, despite the fact that passports are intended to be used for a full ten years. While the U.K.'s Home Office seems confident that the passports will hold up to the rigors of travel, the National Audit Office that discovered the curious oversight is nonetheless encouraging those responsible to inquire about extending the warranty to cover any future potential problems. If that weren't enough, there's also concerns that the necessary scanners for the passports won't be in place throughout the U.K. until March of this year, likely causing delays for travelers in the meantime. Surely they won't have any more problems than that.

[Josh @ Feb 7th 2007 8:43PM]

Yet another example of my wonderful government getting things plain wrong. Great. Roll on the next PM, as if he'll be any better.

[joey @ Feb 7th 2007 9:53PM]

wow. the first post bashed the PM.....totally unrelated

[Andrew C @ Feb 8th 2007 10:21AM]

I don't think the idea is necessarily wrong, but this government's track record with any sort of IT related project is appalling - this type of oversight sums it all up, really.

[Josh @ Feb 8th 2007 7:44AM]

Well he is the one technically in charge!

[ssuk @ Feb 8th 2007 3:48AM]

It's hip and cool to bash Blair, but no one wants Cameron to be PM either because we know already he'll be worse. Anyway, this ePassport shit isn't even a good idea let alone a pratical one... I dare say the ePassport stuff will be scrapped before your warrenty runs out on the thing.

[Christopher @ Feb 8th 2007 1:56PM]

If that was a business and not a government, the idiots responsible for such an obvious oversight would be demoted or fired.

But they'll probably get promoted.

Sigh.

[Jim H @ Feb 10th 2007 9:43AM]

It's just the same old problem: if something is encrypted such that it can be easily, and quickly, decrypted it's likely to be relatively easy to crack. Viz. HD DVD, DVD, cable cards, etc., etc. I really don't know why they bother.

Is it just to create jobs for the boys in the big consultancies? I'm beginning to suspect that that's really what it's all about.

They will never come up with an unhackable system so why waste the tax payer's money trying?