you need a photo (specifically the MRZ) to authenticate with the NFC chip
but it doesn’t need to be stored
otherwise anyone could skim it
Discussion
my passport has an NFC chip in it. i think i either smacked it with a hammer or put it for a second or two in a microwave. i forget when it stopped registering on an NFC scanner.
i probably had a fit of pique about it because nobody even was using scanners. rent hotel? photocopy. get some government shit. photocopy. rent a house? photocopy. never needed the chip in it, and it makes the whole thing awkward.
anyway, i don't want a fucking cattle tag. they had the chance, a whole decade they did nothing with this. instead, photocopy.
because they did nothing with it, people didn't get used to using the digital cryptography features and they won't be on the front foot trying to bring that in. they had at least 10 years to do it, and nothing. instead we have webservers loaded up with photographs that serve in place of the physical item.
they are gonna be fucked.