# Could Outsourced Passports Risk National Security? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 28, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-outsourced-passports-risk-national-security/443015 "2008-03-28T04:02:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-outsourced-passports-risk-national-security/443015/1 "2008-03-28T04:02:40Z")
Part 1 is [here](http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/NATION/840186493/1001&template=printart). Part 2 of the story is [here](http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080327/NATION/119767500/-1/RSS_NATION_POLITICS&template=printart). Part 3 is coming. Some interesting questions are raised. And of course there’s a Thailand connection: “The United States has outsourced the manufacturing of its electronic passports to overseas companies — including one in Thailand that was victimized by Chinese espionage — raising concerns that cost savings are being put ahead of national security, an investigation by The Washington Times has found.” And: “The Times reported yesterday that the GPO chose two European computer chip makers over U.S. manufacturers to make tens of millions of electronic passports. The passports are being assembled in Thailand by one company that was a victim of Chinese economic espionage.” The company is Smartrac. Their website is [here](http://www.smartrac-group.com/en/). The last time I renewed my passport, five years ago, it was done at the National Passport Center in New Hampshire, as a security measure. Before 9/11, passport renewals were done locally. But that was in 2003. This blurb [here](http://www.contactlessnews.com/weblog/2006/11/29/smartrac-issuing-inlays-opening-fourth-factory-in-thailand/) says Smartrac has been used since 2004. I’m a little concerned about the implications of outsourcing this sort of thing, especially to a company that has been cracked by Chinese spies. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-outsourced-passports-risk-national-security/443015/2 "2008-03-28T16:06:41Z")
Not sure if Part 3 is [here](http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080328/EDITORIAL/431268530) or not. This seems awfully slight, more like an introduction to the series. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-outsourced-passports-risk-national-security/443015/3 "2008-03-28T16:29:31Z")
Yes, that IS an intro. Part 3 is actually [here](http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/NATION/389492965/1001).