RFID and Biometrics: A Bad Thing?

Here's something to add to privacy concerns: some worry that the inclusion of biometric data on an RFID-enabled identification document actually increases the risk of identity theft than RFID alone. In fact, the concern applies to any method of encoding biometric data that can be read from a card without the individual's express permission. The other technologies identified as "security risks" were 2D symbols and magnetic stripes, both of which are cited as possible technologies for use on future US ID cards. The concerns were voiced in comments to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in response to a call for comments on the proposed REAL ID Act.

The REAL ID Act is an attempt by the US Government to ensure that all state-issued IDs contain a basic minimum amount of information such as name, address, data of birth and a photograph and that these elements be encoded in "a common machine-readable format." There have been conflicting statements issued on whether magnetic stripe or 2D symbols would be used.