Biometric devices use the physical and behavioral traits of
individuals to authenticate their identities. Gait, hand measurement,
the retinas and the irises of the eye, the face pattern, the
fingerprint, the voice, the face contour and the signature of an
individual are used to identify him or her. The biometric technology is
one of the latest in those introduced, to make passports more secure and
tamper proof. The passport has an embedded electronic chip, which makes
the passport behave more or less like a smartcard. The chip uses the
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology like smartcards. These
passports have a minimum of 32k of memory capacity.
For now, biometric passports are restricted only for the use of government officials and diplomats. This was an extremely necessary step in the post 9/11 era. In the coming years, the American government plans to start issuing biometric passports even for the purpose of tourism. However, the pricing of the biometric passports for the general public is yet undetermined.
Although the system of having biometric passports seems like a very good idea to ward off illegal immigration and terrorist activities, yet, it is not without its own package of disadvantages. A number of organizations agree that the introduction of biometric passports may well be the biggest threat to the civil liberty of individuals all over the world. As America and the European Union plans to negotiate with other nations on the introduction of this new technology equipped passport, the entire world population will find itself recorded as a piece of digital information stored on a computer's memory chip. Tracking an individual by using this global database will then become extremely easy.
Though this system will make the lives of criminals and other anti-social forces very difficult, it could wreck havoc if it found its way to the wrong set of hands.
For now, biometric passports are restricted only for the use of government officials and diplomats. This was an extremely necessary step in the post 9/11 era. In the coming years, the American government plans to start issuing biometric passports even for the purpose of tourism. However, the pricing of the biometric passports for the general public is yet undetermined.
Although the system of having biometric passports seems like a very good idea to ward off illegal immigration and terrorist activities, yet, it is not without its own package of disadvantages. A number of organizations agree that the introduction of biometric passports may well be the biggest threat to the civil liberty of individuals all over the world. As America and the European Union plans to negotiate with other nations on the introduction of this new technology equipped passport, the entire world population will find itself recorded as a piece of digital information stored on a computer's memory chip. Tracking an individual by using this global database will then become extremely easy.
Though this system will make the lives of criminals and other anti-social forces very difficult, it could wreck havoc if it found its way to the wrong set of hands.
Passports [http://www.WetPluto.com/Passport-Applications.html]
provides detailed information on Passports, Passport Renewal, Passport
Applications, Passport Photos and more. Passports is affiliated with
Passport Renewal Forms [http://www.e-PassportRenewal.com].
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Riverside
