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Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

techcrunch.com

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Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#21

Post by khuey »

existencebox wrote: post #7

Am I the only one spooked by the fact that to opt out, you now need to have your passport with you? (and for _domestic travel_ no less) Given that the facial databases contain your data regardless, and the amount of in-airport surveillance (in that you're not gonna avoid being observed and logged), It's more of a, "we're gonna make you present your papers regardless, pick your poison"

Are they actually using this on domestic flights? I know the article mentions flying domestically but I haven't seen any evidence that this is being used for non-international flights.

The whole point of this is to implement the Congressional mandate for exit tracking without the more traditional exit controls of getting your passport checked and stamped upon exit (which most countries do).

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#22

Post by mehrdadn »

chrisseaton wrote: post #13
existencebox wrote: post #7

Am I the only one spooked by the fact that to opt out, you now need to have your passport with you? (and for _domestic travel_ no less) Given that the facial databases contain your data regardless, and the amount of in-airport surveillance (in that you're not gonna avoid being observed and logged), It's more of a, "we're gonna make you present your papers regardless, pick your poison"

Isn’t a passport just a basic photo ID? Seems reasonable to ask for on to check people are who they say they are. Everyone already has a passport.

You find it normal to carry around passports for domestic travel? How often do you travel?

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#23

Post by turk73 »

The pieces of the puzzle that all go together:

REAL ID, federalizes drivers licenses for creating a database of photos for facial recognition and metadata.

Enhanced Passport--the requirements for getting the photo include not wearing glasses and not smiling, ostensibly so that their algorithm works better.

Facial scanning at airports, so they can build up as big a database as possible.

I'm surprised they didn't require full fingerprints for REAL ID.

How much further do we go before the tyranny becomes in your face enough?

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#24

Post by gumby »

chrisseaton wrote: post #13
existencebox wrote: post #7

Am I the only one spooked by the fact that to opt out, you now need to have your passport with you? (and for _domestic travel_ no less) Given that the facial databases contain your data regardless, and the amount of in-airport surveillance (in that you're not gonna avoid being observed and logged), It's more of a, "we're gonna make you present your papers regardless, pick your poison"

Isn’t a passport just a basic photo ID? Seems reasonable to ask for on to check people are who they say they are. Everyone already has a passport.

I don't know about everyone but I just looked and was shocked to learn 42% of Americans have passports, 10X the level 25 years ago.

Personally I rarely carry any ID at all, and when I do it's a non-"real ID" driver's license, which I have though I don't own a car. Almost anywhere where ID is "required" (including air travel) it turns out that if you don't have any you can still do what you want (note I'm old enough that I don't get carded for alcohol). I generally have ID with me only if I know in advance I'm going somewhere where I cannot do without it, a couple of times a month. I fly more than that!

(It's absurd that a driving licenses are also IDs, but that's another discussion).

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#25

Post by foenix »

chrisseaton wrote: post #13
existencebox wrote: post #7

Am I the only one spooked by the fact that to opt out, you now need to have your passport with you? (and for _domestic travel_ no less) Given that the facial databases contain your data regardless, and the amount of in-airport surveillance (in that you're not gonna avoid being observed and logged), It's more of a, "we're gonna make you present your papers regardless, pick your poison"

Isn’t a passport just a basic photo ID? Seems reasonable to ask for on to check people are who they say they are. Everyone already has a passport.

Everyone? I've had once since birth, but it's foolish to think "Everyone already has a passport". As of 2018, only a ~1/3 of US citizens (137,588,631) have an active passport: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/after/p...

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#26

Post by turk73 »

clairity wrote: post #15
mieseratte wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I opt for a pat-down every time. I doubt this will put me on any worse of a list. Thanks for sharing OP!

me too. those peeping tom machines are such a farce in the overall tragedy that is security theater.

Yes, thanks L3 Systems and asshat Chertoff for creating the "shoe bomber" and getting your shit sold. Enjoy your billions and rot in hell.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#28

Post by afpx »

turk73 wrote: post #23

The pieces of the puzzle that all go together: REAL ID, federalizes drivers licenses for creating a database of photos for facial recognition and metadata. Enhanced Passport--the requirements for getting the photo include not wearing glasses and not smiling, ostensibly so that their algorithm works better. Facial scanning at airports, so they can build up as big a database as possible. I'm surprised they didn't requi…

That seems like hyperbole to me. Remember, we live in a republican democracy. Yes, it works slowly (by design). But, it works. At least we don’t have a totalitarian state to deal with.

I used to be skeptical of this stuff, too. Then, we had 18 years of no major terrorist attacks.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#29

Post by mehrdadn »

gumby wrote: post #24
chrisseaton wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t a passport just a basic photo ID? Seems reasonable to ask for on to check people are who they say they are. Everyone already has a passport.

I don't know about everyone but I just looked and was shocked to learn 42% of Americans have passports, 10X the level 25 years ago. Personally I rarely carry any ID at all, and when I do it's a non-"real ID" driver's license, which I have though I don't own a car. Almost anywhere where ID is "required" (including air travel) it turns out that if you don't have any you can still do what you want (note I'm old enough t…

> I generally have ID with me only if I know in advance I'm going somewhere where I cannot do without it, a couple of times a month. I fly more than that!

Wow, what's the procedure like for when you don't have your ID if you don't mind me asking? What do you tell them when they ask why, how do they verify you, how early do you come/long does it take, etc.?

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#30

Post by newsoul2019 »

mehrdadn wrote: post #22
chrisseaton wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t a passport just a basic photo ID? Seems reasonable to ask for on to check people are who they say they are. Everyone already has a passport.

You find it normal to carry around passports for domestic travel? How often do you travel?

In the current presidential administration, this has become a very good idea, to carry around excessive proof that you belong in this country....
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