NY state inserts RFIDs into licenses; citizens next?
By Tim Stevens 
posted September 17th 2008 10:58AM
posted September 17th 2008 10:58AM
What can we say about RFIDs that hasn't already made you afraid? Your passport? Clonable. Your work ID and "secure" credit cards? Yeah, those too. Not scary enough? How about every adult New Yorker walking around with one in their back pocket? It's just a matter of time, as the Empire State's clearly enhanced drivers licenses (says so right on 'em) are now hitting the streets. For $30 on a new one, or $10 if you're looking to upgrade, you can get yourself a radio-wave emitting ID, enabling you to cross the border into Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean sans-passport. Don't worry, the cards won't be broadcasting any personal information -- just a unique code that the government can use to track your every movement.[Via Crave]
I'm in Rochester, and I'll probably order one of these. Fraction of the cost of one of those "passport cards" or whatever the not-quite-passport things are called.
I'm not sure about all you egomaniacs out there, but I can't imagine why anyone would want to steal MY identity...
We already have this in Washington State and it works seamlessly when crossing the border into Canada. They provide a metallic lined sleeve when you receive it to block unauthorized reading of the code. I asked for a second one and have lined my license pocket front and back to avoid any of those issues.
As for the Orwellian connotations some posters have made, you are living in a fantasy world. All first world governments already have this information about you if you ever applied for a passport.
so you're saying real-time data collection on your whereabouts happens forever because you first applied for a passport?
me fail logic?
This is part of the real ID act of 2005. It got tacked on to the tsunami relief bill. All states are supposed to start complying this year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REAL_ID_Act
Close proximity with the appropriate sensors ... like maybe something mounted in a doorway as you pass through it, or a subway turnstile?
Yeah, nothing to worry about.
just make sure to keep your license under your tinfoil hat at all times. thanks Uncka Sam!
You're all missing the point. This is an OPTIONAL drivers license that will let you get back into the country without a passport if you go to Mexico or Canada. You don't HAVE to get it, it's purely a convenience feature. And if you go to Canada a lot, it's probably worth it.
i'm waiting for the day when a majority have them and some guy in a shiny uniform asks me "so why do you have the old UNenhanced license? are you hiding something"?
Those in power use technology as a tool, or an excuse to take away our rights bit by small bit. These are optional now, but in a few years who knows.
And thus we enter the age of the tinfoil wallet.
I strongly suspect banks, the main motivating corporate entity behind the police state, have already implemented RFID in thier debit cards, it's the only reason I can think of for their frequent debit and credit card changes.
Got a cell phone? Then they're already tracking your every movement.
You know how credit card companies call you if your spending habits change? Who do you suppose gets alerted when your movement patterns change?
http://www.learnucd.com/kevlar/cell-slaves
exactly...there are a lot of people in this post that are way too paranoid about this tech being used to track people when, chances are, those people are already being tracked through other means. if you are under some sort of police investigation they can already track you through cell and car gps (especially with onstar etc), any bank activity, phone calls, any place that requires you to scan an ID to enter (work, other offices, some bars, etc), any international travel. the only way rfid would change this is with a giant infrastructure addition...and given the pace the government works, this is not likely in the near future. the biggest threat with this is identity theft, not big brother
(p.s. i like the new comment system without the dimmed neutral comments and highlighted highest rank)
Would wrapping these on alluminum foil work to stop it from being detected with random people?
What the...
You're saying the NY government was behind the Iraq invasion? NOW everything starts to make sense.
@krepitor above...
But now can't someone just steal someone else's RFID wallet and then cross the border without a passport?
Nope... you still need to look like the pic on the license.
As others have said, we've had these in WA for a while. Over here it works such that the RFID carries a key which is used to lookup your license picture at the border crossing. There's no personal data on the RFID itself, though snagging (and later spoofing) the data would get you the license info.
If you think this is fun, just wait until the legal system starts using RFID signal detection at a crime scene as being evidence enough to convict someone. It'll be treated like DNA, only without a physical presence at the scene itself. And, if you claim someone stole it, you'll immediately be asked why it wasn't immediately reported to the proper authorities.
It will happen, and here in the US, we're stupid enough to let it. All it'll take for it to gain acceptance is for it to be used as a plot device on an upcoming episode of CSI.
Everyone has
their own number
in the system that
we operate under
We're moving to
a situation
where your lives exist
as information
We're concerned
you're a threat
You're not integral
to the project
(Integral, Pet shop Boys, Fundamental)
They've had these in WA for awhile. Easily 6 months since I got mine. Here at least they give you a nice protective sleeve that blocks unwelcome scanning. They are essentially the Passport Card as issued issued by the government already for some $125 a pop. The Enhanced DL makes a cheap and practical solution if you are going to be traveling to and from Canada or Mexico since it is only acceptable for land and sea travel. For the $10 upgrade (or whatever it happens to be), it sure beats the Passport Card or even the $160 Passport which also has an RFID chip.
There's a collusion attack though, if you set up a scanner with a camera and monitor at one location, you will likely be able to match an individual to a key. Then you can use that to clone a card. I don't know how much information the boarder guards receive, if it is only a picture, possibly to match the license, you would probably need physical access to the card to reproduce the photo; so it probably can't be used to slip in and out of the country by rouge individuals.
I suspect it could still be used for tracking purposes with enough scanners and the above collusion attack.
I've used this on my husband for years.
Waterproof device?, I think not, 5 for me 0 for the government, the secret war continues...