CDT Testimony: DHS, State Using Insecure RFID Technology - The long-range or "vicinity" Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology chosen by the Departments of Homeland Security and State for government-issued ID documents poses serious risks to personal privacy and security, CDT testified today before a Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee. CDT recommended that DHS and State abandon the technology, which was originally developed to track things, not people, and that encryption be used to protect a citizen's unique ID number. CDT also urged Congress to support legislation or regulations banning unauthorized "skimming" of RFID chips and prohibiting use of the passport card and Enhanced Driver's License beyond border security. April 29, 2008
Share this articleCDT Calls for Judicial Oversight of FBI Information Demands - The Center for Democracy and Technology today called for judicial oversight of National Security Letters (NSLs); the documents are used by the FBI when seeking records containing sensitive personal information. Successive Inspector General reports have uncovered abuses and mistakes by the FBI in issuing the NSLs. In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, CDT's Greg Nojeim said that FBI self-policing does not work. CDT and other organizations issued a letter endorsing the NSL Reform Act, S. 2088, which would place more restrictions on how NSLs are issued and subject them to judicial oversight. April 23, 2008
Share this articleCDT Corrects the Record About Security of Personal Data on REAL ID Cards - Today CDT sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee highlighting Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff’s recent testimony in which he wrongly asserted that the personal information stored on REAL ID cards will be safe from unauthorized access, and accused privacy advocates of spreading “misinformation.” In fact, the REAL ID Act and regulations mandate that Americans’ personal data be stored in an unsecured barcode, which can be easily scanned with widely available readers. April 08, 2008
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