In response to widespread security concerns regarding new U.S. electronic passports, the U.S. State Department has announced the incorporation of new features to allay fears of wireless identity theft. Concerns were voiced by the American Civil Liberties Union that anyone with an electronic reader, such as terrorists or criminals motivated by greed, could wirelessly read new electronic chips which transmit their data over radio waves. Each chip will store a passport holders name, nationality, sex, birth date, place of birth, issuing office and (digital) photograph. To diminish the possibility of wireless identity theft, the State Department developed a new cover for passports that surrounds the new ID-chip to prevent its information from being broadcast over radio waves. Information can still be retrieved wirelessly from these chips, but only when touched physically to government readers.

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