Rep says no RFID Drivers License

[nathanm]

I'd assume it's possible with wireless devices too

It's possible. I've read news reports of them loading modified firmware onto devices over the air so they can remotely activate the microphone. I don't know how a subject could not notice it, though. Making long phone calls (which this essentially is) makes the phone warm and runs the battery down relatively quickly. Obviously, that's not much of an issue with Onstar monitoring or using a landline desk set for the same purpose.

One thing I really hate about this sort of thing is that when backdoors for law enforcement are built in to devices, they can easily be repurposed by criminals. Congress and the FCC seem to be intent on ignoring the possibility.

[patric]

One thing I really hate about this sort of thing is that when backdoors for law enforcement are built in to devices, they can easily be repurposed by criminals.

...or bright 14 year-olds able and willing to play a prank on a teacher or student.
"Hey, let see how many names we can add to the sex offender registry, or add the principal to a database of car tags spotted at gay bars."
The amount of personal data that can be aggregated on individuals isnt nearly as scary as knowing that information isnt as secure as we are lead to believe. 

[nathanm]

The amount of personal data that can be aggregated on individuals isnt nearly as scary as knowing that information isnt as secure as we are lead to believe. 

Yes, when credit card companies, who have billions of dollars at stake, can't manage to get data security right, I have little faith that someone lacking several billion reasons to get security right would bother.

When I was in high school in Arkansas, I had all the passwords to the electronic gradebook (there was almost zero security). Back then, there was enough of a paper trail that I felt it wasn't worth the risk in changing my attendance records.