EACs

EACs is an acronym that can refer to more than one concept, depending on the context. The plural form is often used when discussing multiple instances or aspects of a given term. This article summarizes two widely encountered meanings: the East African Community and Extended Access Control in identity documents.

East African Community

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organization that promotes economic, political, and social integration among its member states. It traces its modern revival to a 1999 treaty and has since expanded to seven members: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The EAC seeks to create a phased integration process that includes a Customs Union, a Common Market, and plans for a monetary union and eventual political federation. Its organizational bodies include the Summit of Heads of State, the Council of Ministers, the East African Legislative Assembly, the East African Court of Justice, and the EAC Secretariat. The bloc also coordinates regional standards, infrastructure, trade policy, and security cooperation to foster regional development and mobility.

Extended Access Control

Extended Access Control (EAC) is a security framework used primarily in electronic passports (e-passports) to regulate access to data stored on the passport’s contactless chip. Defined by ICAO in Doc 9303, EAC comprises two main components: Chip Authentication (CA) and Terminal Authentication (TA). CA strengthens the cryptographic session between the passport chip and a reader, while TA allows the passport to verify that the reading terminal is authorized. EAC builds on earlier BAC methods to provide higher security for reading sensitive biometric and personal data.

Note: EACs can denote other terms in different domains; context determines the intended meaning.