I recall reading something similar with regard to the new, chipped U.S. passports. If the chip fails, the document is still valid. (Though I expect you might well be in for some hassle. And don't take my word WRT the document's validity; I'm just remembering some random thing I read.)

I would imagine, though, that intentionally disabling it represents some form of criminally liable tampering or vandalism. Hopefully not forgery; I seem to recall that forgery carries some big penalties. I wouldn't see disabling some of the information as forgery, but I don't know how a prosecutor might argue the situation.