New Passports Will Have Electronic Chips
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
The State Department plans to implant electronic identification chips in U.S. passports that will allow computer matching of facial characteristics, despite warnings that the technology is prone to a high rate of error.
Federal researchers, academics and industry experts say the government should instead use more-reliable fingerprints to help thwart potential terrorists.
The enhanced passports -- to be issued next spring for people obtaining new or renewed passports -- will be the first to include biometric information.
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