GRAND RAPIDS – A mandate from the Department of Homeland Security that Michigan put radio chips in drivers licenses is a clear intrusion of civil liberties and puts people at a greater risk of identity theft, U.S. Rep. Justin Amash said in a letter to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Amash, in the communication, urges the federal agency to work with states to find alternatives to placing radio frequency identification chips into enhanced driver's licenses. Amash is wary that the chips will be able to be read by private entities and mined for personal data.

“I am deeply concerned about the privacy implications of mandatory RFIDs in drivers licenses,” the Cascade Township Republican wrote to Napolitano. “The chips would give public and private entities an unprecedented ability to track Americans.

“Furthermore, if RFIDs were to become ubiquitous, there is little doubt that private entities would deploy new technology to capture the chips' data.”

The state began issuing radio-chipped enhanced driver's licenses in April 2009 to comply with the federal requirement. The office has issued 350,000 licenses in nearly three years, according to Gisgie Gendreau, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Ruth Johnson.

There is no policy requiring residents obtain the enhanced license, giving people the option to continue using a standard license.

Proponents say it simplifies travel between borders and is valid to prove citizenship, noting that passports carry the same technology. The information is secured on several levels and contains only an identification number that allows authorities to access information in a homeland security database, federal representatives said.

Detractors, like Amash and the American Civil Liberties Union, contend the ability to read the tags from a distance of 30 feet opens access for theft and fraud.

The civil liberties organization criticizes the department for failing to demand the chips be encrypted, saying even a identification number can become a key to unlock other information about people.

Shelli Weisberg, legislative director for the state ACLU, said the risk remains an issue.

“We're not a fan of the chips because of the potential for misuse,” Weisberg said.

Johnson has also expressed worries with the chips, a contrast to her predecessor, Terri Lynn Land, who pushed for the technology. Johnson has had discussions about the radio chips with homeland security officials and wants to make sure customers information is protected, Gendreau said.

“Her goal is to have a balance between security and convenience,” Gendreau said.

Amash seeks the same middle ground.

“I believe we can find a solution that both satisfies federal law and protects our civil liberties,” Amash said in his letter. “Please work with Michigan officials to adopt an alternative to mandatory RFIDs.”



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