ROFLMAO!!!! I suppose I can refuse to get a social security number and refuse to get the mandated vaccinations and move to the middle of nowhere wilderness so no one can track me illicitly, but then again, I choose to be part of the greater society.
If you don't want a passport with an RFID then stop traveling. To advocate intentionally destroy part of your passport , which is what you are advocating, isn't right. I would suspect that the government might actually frown on this and could take your passport away if you intentionally destroy part of it.
If the government wants to track you, they will track you. If you are an element of society that the government (or some shady, nefarious organization) feels necessary to track, then, umm, maybe you have a right to feel watched.
If you are a general traveler, then worrying about your chipped passport is beyond silly in my opinion. It has been proved that
if you keep it in a reader proof sleeve or pouch then it can't be read, at all, no problem. If you are overly worried about it, just keep it as safe as you do your other personal belongings.
Originally Posted by
sbm12
The problem is much greater than just that someone can "use" the number without you there. Because they can read your government-issued ID remotely it is now significantly easier to track people illicitly.
Yes, the key is to protect yourself from from folks being able to track you. In the case of a technology that is marching forward without proper oversight or considerations for personal privacy or security the responsible thing to do is to prevent yourself from being tracked in that way.
Destroying the RFID chip is the most reliable way to ensure this. That way you know you are protected, regardless of where you are carrying the card.
And it is most certainly NOT too late to pressure the government to act responsibly when it comes to things like individual privacy concerns. That time will never come.