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DFAT calls for ePassport chips
Julian Bajkowski, Computerworld
07/07/2004
It's full steam ahead on Australia's biometric-cum-facial recognition passports. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has requested both restricted and open tenders for integrated circuit chips, inlays, hardware, software and services for the first batch of prototype, new-age travel documents.
Dubbed ePassports, the prototypes will be tested over the next 12 to 18 months to evaluate how well the new technology performs in terms of its durability, reliability and interoperability with other systems linked to passport, immigration and border control applications.
The ePassport pilot program is slated to start in October 2004; around 6000 passport units and 10 readers and writers will be supplied. Should the trials prove satisfactory, DFAT anticipates full-scale production of ePassports would be around one million per year.
Apart from leading a front-end push to automate border control transaction processes, the new documents are the sharp end of Australia's commitment to the US to upgrade passports in order to maintain Visa Waiver Status for Australian nationals.
Ironically, the US biometric passport scheme has been put back by at least another 12 months as various government departments struggle to integrate IT systems and protocols for sharing information - leading to the distinct possibility that Australian travellers will be biometrically equipped for US travel before the US can process such documents.
According to DFAT tender documents, the new technology will be based on an "MRTD chip storing biometric (including facial image) and other data in a contact-less electronic chip in passports". Chips for the passports will be required to be at least 8-bits and with built in cryptographic processing to an algorithmic minimum of 16-byte DES3.
Storage has been set as either Flash or EEPROM, with a 60-KB minimum over and above operating systems requirements. The chips and associated storage will also be required to last a minimum 40,000 read/write cycles "without failure or performance degradation" – plain sailing for most processors, but a much tougher ask for what DFAT sources described as a "document which is mistreated badly and frequently".
In terms of security and authentication, the passports will use PKI (public key infrastructure) with tender applicants restricted to those approved under the Australian Government Information Management Office's (AGIMO) tightly-vetted Gatekeeper program.
DFAT is also taking seriously the threat of potential hacks of the new passports, with security levels set at a minimum of EAL 4 – meaning the new chipsets will be required to be either on par or just below most military grade applications. Visible tamper-proofing of the chip is also required.
The tender closes on July 30.
Canada plans to issue high-tech passports
OTTAWA, July 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Canada plans to issue high-tech passports with digitized photographs next year, Canadian media said on Sunday.
Dan Kingsbury, a spokesman for the federal Passport Office, said the e-Passport will be distributed on a trial basis to Canadian diplomats sometime in the first half of 2005.
"If the initial implementation goes well, we'll begin issuing the e-Passport to the general public afterwards," Kingsbury said.
The project is the latest government initiative to track and control the flow of people across borders more closely following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
The government is pushing ahead with the plan despite objections from privacy and information specialists who argue it is unduly intrusive and unlikely to enhance national security.
The e-Passport will feature a computer chip containing the holder's photograph and personal information on the current passport, including name and date of birth. Authorities at borderpoints would be able to call up the data on the digital chip by swiping the passport against an electronic reader.
"The aim of the e-Passport is to reduce the chance of passport tampering and identity fraud," Kingsbury said. Enditem
http://www.infowars.com/print/bb/trackerchips_canadianpp.htm
Julian Bajkowski, Computerworld
07/07/2004
It's full steam ahead on Australia's biometric-cum-facial recognition passports. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has requested both restricted and open tenders for integrated circuit chips, inlays, hardware, software and services for the first batch of prototype, new-age travel documents.
Dubbed ePassports, the prototypes will be tested over the next 12 to 18 months to evaluate how well the new technology performs in terms of its durability, reliability and interoperability with other systems linked to passport, immigration and border control applications.
The ePassport pilot program is slated to start in October 2004; around 6000 passport units and 10 readers and writers will be supplied. Should the trials prove satisfactory, DFAT anticipates full-scale production of ePassports would be around one million per year.
Apart from leading a front-end push to automate border control transaction processes, the new documents are the sharp end of Australia's commitment to the US to upgrade passports in order to maintain Visa Waiver Status for Australian nationals.
Ironically, the US biometric passport scheme has been put back by at least another 12 months as various government departments struggle to integrate IT systems and protocols for sharing information - leading to the distinct possibility that Australian travellers will be biometrically equipped for US travel before the US can process such documents.
According to DFAT tender documents, the new technology will be based on an "MRTD chip storing biometric (including facial image) and other data in a contact-less electronic chip in passports". Chips for the passports will be required to be at least 8-bits and with built in cryptographic processing to an algorithmic minimum of 16-byte DES3.
Storage has been set as either Flash or EEPROM, with a 60-KB minimum over and above operating systems requirements. The chips and associated storage will also be required to last a minimum 40,000 read/write cycles "without failure or performance degradation" – plain sailing for most processors, but a much tougher ask for what DFAT sources described as a "document which is mistreated badly and frequently".
In terms of security and authentication, the passports will use PKI (public key infrastructure) with tender applicants restricted to those approved under the Australian Government Information Management Office's (AGIMO) tightly-vetted Gatekeeper program.
DFAT is also taking seriously the threat of potential hacks of the new passports, with security levels set at a minimum of EAL 4 – meaning the new chipsets will be required to be either on par or just below most military grade applications. Visible tamper-proofing of the chip is also required.
The tender closes on July 30.
Canada plans to issue high-tech passports
OTTAWA, July 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Canada plans to issue high-tech passports with digitized photographs next year, Canadian media said on Sunday.
Dan Kingsbury, a spokesman for the federal Passport Office, said the e-Passport will be distributed on a trial basis to Canadian diplomats sometime in the first half of 2005.
"If the initial implementation goes well, we'll begin issuing the e-Passport to the general public afterwards," Kingsbury said.
The project is the latest government initiative to track and control the flow of people across borders more closely following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
The government is pushing ahead with the plan despite objections from privacy and information specialists who argue it is unduly intrusive and unlikely to enhance national security.
The e-Passport will feature a computer chip containing the holder's photograph and personal information on the current passport, including name and date of birth. Authorities at borderpoints would be able to call up the data on the digital chip by swiping the passport against an electronic reader.
"The aim of the e-Passport is to reduce the chance of passport tampering and identity fraud," Kingsbury said. Enditem
http://www.infowars.com/print/bb/trackerchips_canadianpp.htm
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