E-passports to debut this summer
Recently, the State Department issued diplomatic electronic passports on a trial basis.
A State Department official on Wednesday said the department plans to start making electronic passports for government travelers and issuing e-passports for tourists this summer.
Recently, the department began issuing diplomatic e-passports on a trial basis.
Frank Moss, the deputy assistant secretary for passport services, said at a conference wireless and radio-frequency identification technology that the development of the e-passport system is not easy.
According to prepared remarks, he said the new passport model contains technology to prevent "skimming," or using a chip reader to steal passport information. He also said the model will include other safety features to prevent misuse.
Moss acknowledged privacy concerns about some technologies and encouraged people with such concerns to comment during the rulemaking process regarding the technical solution the department proposes.