'''Basic access control''' (BAC) is a mechanism specified to ensure only authorized parties<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hasbrouck.org/documents/ICAO9303-pt1-vol2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011212814/http://hasbrouck.org/documents/ICAO9303-pt1-vol2.pdf |dead-url-status=yesdead |archive-date=2007-10-11 |title=ICAO Document 9303, Part 1, Volume 2 (e-passports) |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2012-01-15 }}</ref> can wirelessly read personal information from [[passport]]s with an [[RFID]] chip. It uses data such as the passport number, date of birth and expiration date to negotiate a session key. This key can then be used to encrypt the communication between the passports chip and a reading device. This mechanism is intended to ensure that the owner of a passport can decide who can read the electronic contents of the passport. This mechanism was first introduced into the German passport on 1 November 2005 and is now also used in many other countries (e.g., [[United States passport]]s since August 2007).<ref>[https://travel.state.gov/passport/eppt/eppt_2788.html#Eleven ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230072602/http://travel.state.gov/passport/eppt/eppt_2788.html#Eleven |date=December 30, 2007 }}</ref>
