U.S. to require passports for nearly all air travelers, including Americans

"Nearly all air travelers entering the U.S. will be required to show passports beginning January 23, 2007 including returning Americans and people from Canada and other nations in the Western Hemisphere."

What people are not really reporting is that the new passports are the RFID version. They are "standardized" among all passport and visa bearing countries now. They call it the E-passport initiative.

http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/content_multi_image_0021.shtm

What I have a problem with is how our passports are getting updated with this RFID technology, and our Real-ID state ID/drivers licenses are getting updated as well. Alcohol, and Tobacco purchases are now requiring that you "swipe" your ID in order to pull up information relating to a "fake" ID or not. This innocent swipe can also alert authorities of improper usage, warrants or other information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REAL_ID_Act

You may think this is benign. I mean, I don't have anything to hide and why should I care if they know everything I purchase, where I go, what I do, and who I am with?

The US government has already stated that they are not going to use the passports for just getting back "into" the country but for authorization to leave as well. If you are somehow flagged by DHS you may actually be required to stay in the country.

http://papersplease.org/wp/2006/10/12/mother-may-i/
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/apis/

As security initiatives go, they happen slowly. However, one day we will be required to swipe our Real-ID card when we purchase goods and services. When that day happens, and I am required to swipe my card to buy stuff at the store we have entered the Orwellian nightmare society of scifi legends.

The government does NOT need to collect this much information on us. The sub-contractors who have access to this data do not need this much information on us. We need to be left alone and allow the most advanced forms of society and social networks to take place. Government only hinders social development, NOT encourage it.

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