RFID Enabled Passport Cards

Over the past two years, the U.S. government has engaged in what appeared to be a boondoggle project to create RFID enabled passports. Despite second thoughts on the matter, the new passports were issued in 2006. RFID hackers quickly demonstrated techniques to compromise the passports leading many to find creative ways of disabling them - like using a hammer.

Despite these events, the state department has developed a plan to create RFID enabled passport cards, which are supposed to accelerate re-entry into the United States for citizens by allowing computers to screen passengers from up to 40 feet away before they arrive at the customs desk. The cards allegedly will not contain any private identifiers but will likely create a lucrative new target for hackers to clone and make Americans even more "remotely identifiable" while traveling abroad.