Local groups speaking out against "Real ID"

**Doug** · 01-30-2012, 04:46 PM

Soon, Florida may be implementing RFID (radio frequency ID) technology into its drivers licenses, and some groups are concerned. They say that this practice, already in place in states like Washington, New York, Michigan and Vermont, would enable people's personal information to be read remotely without their permission. Here are some of their concerns:

1) Even if the database is never compromised (let’s assume they use better security than the Dept. of Defense, who had our F-35 fighter technology stolen last year), this would not prevent the RFID from being cloned. Electronic cloning enables one RFID chip (or cell phone, etc.) to exactly impersonate the other. This means someone else could be you- at least as far as the scanners are concerned.

2) If the database is compromised, then hackers can do all sorts of damage. Please read this story from 2009 where a hacker modified a United Kingdom nation ID card to enable benefits and to include a message readable by law enforcement to shoot the holder on sight.
3) RFID enables the holder to be electronically tracked. This is why Wal-Mart has used it for merchandise. Are you no different than a pair of jeans at Wal-Mart?

In the current session, the Florida Legislature is considering CS/HB 1223 in the House and CS/SB 1122 in the Senate. So far, both of these bills have passed one committee with no votes against them. How do you feel? Would you be in favor of having this technology used in your license or ID? If you're against it, check out this website:

http://liberty2010.org/realidblog/?p=470

**Matt Meltzer** · 01-30-2012, 07:19 PM

Whats the upside to having it? Like it's an invasion of privacy and I don't really see the advantages. And the government being able to track where you are sounds really creepy. Until you consider that if you have a cell phone and it's on they can do it anyway.