NY Offers RFID Driver's Licenses
What is this, paranoid Tuesday? Hot on the heels of our story about the UK’s massive motorist surveillance system comes a tale of Empire State driver’s licenses that emit a radio signal that tells the authorities who you are. Yes, the same micro-technology designed to keep track of inventory, RFID, can now keep track of your ass. As the AP [via the Berkshire Eagle] reports, the “enhanced” licenses are codenamed EDL or Electronic Drivers License. They are– in theory– all about convenience. You file a shitload of paperwork, pay an extra $30, get the RFID license and sail through Canadian and Mexican customs (international travel still requires a passport). What me worry? “To answer concerns about the ability of hackers to intercept RFID information from the new licenses, the state is mailing each one with a protective storage sleeve that prevents transmission, said DMV spokesman Ken Brown — who stressed that the only information contained in the tag is a number that would be meaningless except to Homeland Security agents and clever terrorists/criminals.”
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Foil-Lined Wallets.
AutoFan: I’m not sure I would use the word of a punk-rock/”convicted” (in civil court) fraudster/anarchist to make the ever popular slippery slope argument. In the United States, drivers licenses are the de facto national ID card. Even people who do not drive have them. So ubiquitous is this practice that authorities (public and private) will even accept drivers licenses issued in foreign countries as identity tokens. And this all has been the case for decades. The "Enhanced Drivers License" (EDL) -- New York is the latest, but all states on the north and south border are coming online -- will almost certainly become the preferred document. You will need one (or its equivalent) to visit any federal building. Want a mortgage? Expect this soon: "We don't accept the old-style DL's anymore: get an EDL or get lost." Even states that have no international border are beginning to offer them for the "convenience" (their words, not Jello Biafra's!) Political will? Already done: you can fall to your knees, and prostrate yourself towards Washington DC -- savior of saviors! -- and praise the REAL ID Act for all of this too. Might as well do get used to this now before it too becomes de facto mandatory. Just the regular National ID program became a laughing stock because of how unwieldy it would have become and that was without RFID. I think you have missed the boat on this. I also don't think you understand that the New York state stuff is already a done deal: the hardware is all in place, the database updates are done, testing complete, applications are now being accepted. That is, the costs are already sunk. Optional or mandatory is now but either a matter of on-the-ground practice or trivial, zero cost, regulatory twitch of the pen. No operational difference either way. In short, the official foot is in the door: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_in_the_door Given the history, it would be remarkably naive to think 'they' are just offering their boot as a free door-stop service...
Ah, RFID drivers licenses. Facebook meets your wallet. Passive participation is laughable, as you willingly give up as much personal information as possible without prodding by the requesting party. Facebook makes you write your name, city/state, school, workplace, friends, hobbies AND allows you to put pictures of yourself doing whatever it is you do. And it's all voluntary. Po-tay-toe/Po-tah-toe