I think the key comment buried in this expose of the farce that is biometric passports is that the implementation is “dangerously naive”.
The key needed to read the 3DES encrypted information on the passport is not only printed on the front, but is made up from a series of other pieces of data. It may well be possible to brute-force a key.
The problem with the passports, as the piece suggests, is that a forged digital passport may well be much more use than a forged paper one, especially if automated border controls become popular. Worth a read.
EDIT: Post reworded for coherence and clarity.