Romania’s Lower House Committee OKs Biometric Passports

Social democrat deputy Georgian Pop, the only opposing member, said the biometric passports are not secure, as any hacker could modify the data on the passport chip.

 

“If a hacker with a laptop passes you by and gets the frequency of the chip in your passport, then they can turn you in a drug or weapon dealer in a matter of hours,” Pop told a press conference after the voting.

 

Pop said his statements are based on studies conducted by Dutch university researchers.

 

However, president of the Defense Committee, Costica Canacheu, said the biometric passports will help protecting citizens and that Romania is the last but one state in the EU bloc to implement this measure.

 

The Committee’s decision is subject to approval in the Chamber of Deputies and in the Senate, which is decisional chamber in the matter.

 

As of December 31 last year, Romania can issue electronic passports in accordance with EC Regulation 2252/2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member States.