Tracking devices in passports? :x

Dunks

Dunks

Dunks

Soldato
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Heh, so just had a little argument with my brother earlier, who is adamant that passports issued to under-16's have some kind of 'tracking chip/device' on them to that if you go missing, they can track you.. Sounds pretty ridiculous I know, almost paranoid :p Just wondering if anyone has heard of this, or has any evidence of this being implemented? Not that I believe it has, just hope that some of the replys might set him straight :rolleyes:
 
he may be getting confused with a new system coming in called biometrics but this is for identification, not for tracking. as of yet we do not have the commercially available technology to implant such a small device in a passport that could be tracked via GPS.
 
The last two new passports I have handled (and these are over 18) have some form of RFID chip or something similar on one of the pages. It's like a chip with a coil of copper coming out and filling the page. Looks pretty neat.
 
Not heard of anything like that bud he may be confusing the national identity card which does have a form of tracking chip in it. Im not sure if it works on GPS or alerts a central sysem everytime you go through certain checkpoint e.g. airport scanners
 
All new passports have an RFID chip in them which can be read and tracked if necessary, but only from short range. Not long before they start branding our foreheads. :mad: :(
 
jpmonkey69 said:
My new passport HAS got a chip in it, however it just stores a digital picture of me I thought. (I'm 127 :( )
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It stores a lot more than your photo, all sorts of personal data such as d.o.b., place of birth, address etc.. Enough information for a criminal to read with a hand held commercial scanner and a little bit of software (all available form the net for less than a few hundred quid) and clone your identity. So much for security. :rolleyes: @ the government
 
AJUK said:
It stores a lot more than your photo, all sorts of personal data such as d.o.b., place of birth, address etc.. Enough information for a criminal to read with a hand held commercial scanner and a little bit of software (all available form the net for less than a few hundred quid) and clone your identity. So much for security. :rolleyes: @ the government
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Wrap your passport in 2 layers of aluminium foil, and it will be extremely hard to read the chip properly.
 
Ex-RoNiN said:
Wrap your passport in 2 layers of aluminium foil, and it will be extremely hard to read the chip properly.
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I have an older type passport and intend to leave the UK for a FREE country before it runs out. ;)
 
AJUK said:
All new passports have an RFID chip in them which can be read and tracked if necessary, but only from short range. Not long before they start branding our foreheads. :mad: :(
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Both my parents new passports have them in too.
 
Shadow Phoenix said:
Not heard of anything like that bud he may be confusing the national identity card which does have a form of tracking chip in it. Im not sure if it works on GPS or alerts a central sysem everytime you go through certain checkpoint e.g. airport scanners
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They won't have a tracking chip, but an RFID chip like passports. However with a widespread network of RFID readers they could be used for tracking.

New passports have RFID chips to store a copy of information in the passport. It does use encryption but it is based on the three non encrypted parts of the data, DoB, Expiry Date and passport number, so it has already been cracked.
 
eriedor said:
They won't have a tracking chip, but an RFID chip like passports. However with a widespread network of RFID readers they could be used for tracking.
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lol... you would have to have a HUUUUGE ammount of readers, it just wouldnt work.


Range
Range is defined as the maximum distance for successful Tag-Reader communication. Read range difference will vary and can be very-short, short, or long.

* Very Short Range: approx. up to 60cm (2 ft) <--- these are in passports.
* Short Range: approx. up to 5 m (16 ft)
* Long Range: approx. 100+ m (320+ ft) <--- this requires a semi active RFID tag, they not only require power, but are expensive.
 
AJUK said:
I have an older type passport and intend to leave the UK for a FREE country before it runs out. ;)
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Now you've stated your intent, they'll just track you by spy satellite instead. ;)

Yes, new passports have an RFID chip with all sorts of stuff (basically everything on the printed page, including the photo, and probably a little more). Trackable from a few metres away, so that'll be as useful as a chocolate teapot to find someone - bear in mind the RFID chips have no power source, so rely on induction.

My passport was also conveniently timed just before the new system came in.
 
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