According to Wired, "RFID chips are passive, and broadcast information to any reader that queries the chip -- thieves could collect the personal data of people as they walk down a street." Now check out a short demonstration of a "real‐world vulnerability associated with the failure of the shielding component in the current proposed electronic passport design." Video after the jump.
...RFID passports will now include a thin radio shield in their covers, protecting the chips when the passports are closed. Although some have derided this as a tinfoil hat for passports, the fact is the measure will prevent the documents from being snooped when closed
