more on RFID passports

[piranha]

edward felten went to CFP (conference on computers, freedom, and privacy) and got some insights as to why this less secure contact-free technology was chosen.

After the panel, I discussed this issue with Kenn Cukier of The Economist, who has followed the development of this technology for a while and has a good perspective on how we reached the current state. It seems that the decision to use contactless technology was made without fully understanding its consequences, relying on technical assurances from people who had products to sell. Now that the problems with that decision have become obvious, it's late in the process and would be expensive and embarrassing to back out. In short, this looks like another flawed technology procurement program. [emphasis mine.]

ah yes. because the government listens to people with vested interests, and can't admit that they were wrong, the rest of us can just bend over. it's all so mature. but at least not malicious. one hopes.

via boing_boing

Comments

[king-tirian.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was my working assumption all along. It puts the whole missile defence shield thing in perspective -- that's a huge government payout to politically-savvy constituencies that will never work as promised, but at least that only costs money and won't actually jeopardize lives.

I have an image of Robert Preston addressing Congress saying that with all the moral decay America really needs a BOY'S BAND! *thinks* Say, the Indiana Conservatory Gold Medal Class of Ought Five is going to be graduating this year!