WASHINGTON - Government and business interests amid an NIST steering committee nearly uprooted public interest group representations the week NSTIC grants were awarded to contractors to retrofit government issue ID for smart phones and other privacy troubled devices. According to reports, pilot programs would use national identity articles, like passports, and US drivers licenses online and in handheld mobile devices.

Grants were awarded to companies like AAMVA, Microsoft, AT&T and Daon. The Daon project would port an electronic version of passports, using biometrics, for use on smartphones to cross international borders around the world.

While Privacy & Civil Liberty councils remained intact after the struggle, it became apparent privacy and most public interest considerations were marginalised.