Self Serving or Treason? You Be the Judge.

The link takes me to an a news video on electronic pickpocketing. I don't see the connection with larceny theft to treason. Can you enlighten me a little more?

The collection of passport information is what caught my attention.

How does that constitute treason?

Oran's Dictionary of the Law (1983) defines treason as "...[a]...citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the [parent nation]." In many nations, it is also often considered treason to attempt or conspire to overthrow the government, even if no foreign country is aided or involved by such an endeavour.

I would think negating the principal utility in boarder security would qualify as citizen's action to help make war against, or seriously injure the parent nation.

Or have you not pondered how many ways you could employ this 'data acquisition ability' as a (hypothetical) enemy of the US?

I would think that you could say that about many things, so from my perspective it seems like the rational for electronic pickpocketing being a form of treason is much too broad.

Cool - I'll put you down as a 'not treason vote'.

How about an anti-anti-terrorism information gathering/tracking/excluding vote then?

I guess it is what you do with the nefariously gathered data.

The bottom line is that one has to prove the intent to make charges of treason stick.

You can go out and steal an ICBM to sell secrets to Iran; treason! Steal an ICBM to impress your friends at the trailer park ("Hey, you all watch this!"); priceless!

I heard about this a few weeks ago. It makes enough sense to me that I lined my wallet with foil. I don't know if the foil will help but I feel better about it.

What they failed to mention is that most credit cards don't have built in RFID. The little key fobs are based on the technology and some flat plastic cards have it as well but most credit cards need to be swiped in a magnetic reader. It would have been nice if they had made that point clear in the article. It doesn't bother me because I know that I have no RFID devices in my wallet.

I'm curious as to how many tin foil wrapped credit cards we'll start to see in the near future.

Sounds like a money making opportunity to me. I will sell you a 5"x10'roll of anti-RFID foil for $30 and I will throw in a foil dispenser for free.

I accept all major cards.

We all know "Big Brother is Watching". To me this just serves as a reminder that he may not always be doing it with good intentions.

And that's a good example why you should try my new anti-RFID foil, as stated in #5, while supplies last.

The video was saying that you could "sometimes get the cardholders name". Every internet purchase I have made requires my name (as shown on the card) and the billing address. I can't remember any vendor NOT asking for the three-digit security code PRINTED on the back of the card. I'm not very afraid.

I think I am going to invent a special microwave reflective RFID credit card/Passport tray that you can pop in the microwave for 60 seconds. Yeah, sell these on eBay... ;-)

Probably not a bad idea for you to fry your chips - given the clearances you likely have (with production of ID), but you would have to make it known you had - just so the authorities know if you then show up all over the place, it's not actually you.

Fancy that; from Researchers Adapt Aircraft Sensor for Multiple Uses

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/researchers-adapt-aircraft-sensor-for-multiple-uses/1006729.article"

"The SMART technology could also make it difficult for identity thieves to steal personal information from electronic passports. 'Right now anyone with a miniature reader can stand close to you and scan your unprotected e-passport while it's closed and in your pocket or purse. But a passport that contained a SMART tag rather than a traditional RFID tag could only be scanned when opened, allowing appropriate personnel to read it."