A bill that would keep state and city governments in California from issuing identification cards with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags has passed the state’s Senate and is now heading for the California Assembly. Senate Bill 682, called the “Identity Information Protection Act” was approved 29-7 in a vote on May 16.
The bill would prohibit public agencies in California from issuing ID cards with a contactless integrated circuit or other device that can broadcast personal information or enable personal information to be scanned remotely. The bill specifically cites RFID technology.
The bill appears to be in contradiction to a bill recently passed by the U.S. Congress that mandates states to issue national ID cards that include an “electronic component.”
Democratic state Sen. Joe Simitian sponsored the bill over concerns the RFID components could be used by identity thieves to steal people’s personal information.
The text of SB 682 can be read at this link.
