From: Joel McNamara <joelm@eskimo.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Aug 1996 00:53:50 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: FAA to require transponders on all aircraft passengers
Message-ID: <199608031349.GAA18917@mail.eskimo.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


This does seem to be real.  CNet has a few more details:

http://www.cnet.com/Content/News/Files/0,16,2031,00.html

At 08:28 PM 8/2/96 -0700, you wrote:
>According to KCBS, a local radio station, the FAA has closed a long
>anticipated deal with a manufacturer of transponder devices. The goal of
>the system to be deployed nationwide is to match aircraft passengers to
>their luggage and thereby identify unaccompanied luggage on board an
>aircraft.
>
>Transponders will be affixed to all items of luggage and all passengers. If
>the system discovers a transponder on the luggage in the cargo hold without
>the corresponding transponder on the passenger on board, an alarm will
>sound. I am not making this up.
>
>As many of you know, I have long predicted subcutaneous transponders to
>become widely deployed in the near future. First for child identification
>and monitoring of criminals, then, as the children grow up, as universal
>ID, driver license, proof of eligibility for employment, PIN substitute,
>etc.
>
>Today, we moved a step closer to this future.
>
>[Note that the transponders will have to be affixed to the passenger. An
>example would be a hospital style bracelet that stops working when removed.
>Why embedding the transponder in a hand carried item, such as a card, will
>not work is left as an exercise to the reader. Even an affixed device does
>not provide perfect security. You'd really have to embed the transponder in
>the body at an early age to make removal nearly impossible.]
>
>
>
>-- Lucky Green <mailto:shamrock@netcom.com> PGP encrypted mail preferred.
>   Defeat the Demopublican Unity Party. Vote no on Clinton/Dole in November.
>   Vote Harry Browne for President.
>
>
>
>