Contactless Smart Card Technology Is the Only Way to Provide Secure Access to U.S. Borders and Protect Citizen Privacy as Outlined in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

• Click here to download the complete Smart Card Alliance response to the proposed WHTI passport card.

The ONLY proven technology existing today that meets all of the WHTI objectives of increased border security, citizen privacy and efficient border crossing is contactless smart card technology–the technology that is being used for ePassport. Using contactless smart card technology would achieve the objective of a faster, more secure means for tens of millions of citizens to cross back into our borders from land and sea, while still protecting the security and privacy of individuals.

• Secure Borders Are the Priority

  Contactless smart card technology is the ONLY technology that utilizes cryptographic techniques to ensure the identity document (the passport card) is authentic thus preventing tampering and forgeries. The contactless smart card includes a secure microcontroller and internal memory and has unique security attributes such as the ability to securely manage, store and provide access to data on the card, perform complex functions (for example, encryption and mutual authentication) and interact intelligently via RF with a contactless reader.

• Personal Privacy Is Critical

  Contactless smart card technology is the ONLY technology able to provide both security for personal information and protection of personal privacy by controlling access to personal information.

• Smart Cards Leverage the Existing Identity Infrastructure to Provide an Efficient and Cost Effective Solution

  A passport card based on contactless smart card technology can leverage the infrastructure that is being put in place by DHS and the Department of State to support the new ePassport, the internationally recognized secure travel document soon to be issued to more than 10 million U.S. citizens each year. Using the same secure contactless technology for the passport card and ePassport could well decrease the implementation time and cost of the program while increasing public acceptance of the program.

• People Shouldn’t Be Tracked Like Cargo or Livestock

  DHS favors using RFID for the WHTI passport card. RFID technology was designed to automate the tracking of products and pallets through a supply chain, not for people. RFID is effective for managing the product data used to inventory items on retail store shelves, an application that has little or no need for security. The technology does not use government-approved encryption algorithms and does not include strong protection against unauthorized reading, cloning or counterfeiting.

The United States Department of State and more than 50 other countries chose to use contactless smart card technology for the ePassport because it is the ONLY way to provide secure access to borders, while protecting the citizen’s personal information.

• Click here to download the complete Smart Card Alliance response to the proposed WHTI passport card.

About the Smart Card Alliance Response

The Smart Card Alliance Identity Council developed and submitted a response to the Department of State Federal Register notice, “Card Format Passport; Changes to Passport Fee Schedule,” Docket ID DOS-2006-0329. This notice announced the DHS and Department of State plan to use “vicinity read” RFID technology compliant with ISO/IEC 18000-6 Part C instead of contactless smart card technology for the proposed passport card.

The response was submitted to the Department of State on November 3, 2006.