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Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

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Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#121

Post by rconti »

chrisseaton wrote: post #33
mehrdadn wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I travel with work a lot. Seems normal to carry some ID like a passport when travelling, to me. Hotels often ask for ID. You don’t know if your plans will change and you’ll need to fly straight to another country, etc.

I'd venture to say 99.9% of Americans will never find themselves traveling internationally at the drop of a hat, without being able to return home first (!)

It's certainly not happened to me, and I'm in the quite unusual position of being someone who's traveled internationally for business on In other words, no, I never take my passport with me unless I leave my house intending to leave the country.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#122

Post by rconti »

chrisseaton wrote: post #107
cblades wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a sincere question: what's your background that you have such a skewed perspective of US travel tendencies?

In the UK almost everyone gets a passport as a baby and never lets it lapse for the rest of their lives. Seems like a basic bit of freedom to have. I assumed Americans would want the same kind of basic freedom to move between countries? You'd get a really funny look if you were suddenly asked to go on a business trip to the US and you said you didn't have a passport yet. Not sure why it wouldn't be the same if you we…

No, you would not get a real funny look. I've traveled internationally on business, and whenever I hear anyone (including myself) asked to travel, they'll ask if you have a passport or if you have a current passport. Yes, working in tech, in a major metro city.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#124

Post by DuskStar »

chimeracoder wrote: post #96
DuskStar wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The last few times I've returned to the states I haven't even had to talk to a customs agent - but signing up for Global Entry might be too much of a violation of privacy by some standards.

> The last few times I've returned to the states I haven't even had to talk to a customs agent - but signing up for Global Entry might be too much of a violation of privacy by some standards. You have to hand your receipt from the machines to an agent who may or may not decide to question you at that point. After baggage claim, you may or may not get stopped by a CBP agent who decides to question you based on their "…

Fair enough. I (20s white guy, mostly asleep) probably don't fit the 'needs to be questioned' profile all that much. (And I'm not certain I'd have remembered answering a basic question like 'why were you travelling' anyways...)

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#125

Post by nimbius »

dontbenebby wrote: post #101
nimbius wrote: post #11

also worth noting: as a US citizen re-entering the country you do not have to present anything more to a customs agent than your passport. You are not required to answer any questions at all. Where youre from, where you were, what you did, nothing, however it may result in an inspection of your bags, so it depends on whether your interpretation of liberty is based on personal convenience. Disclosure: ive done this op…

> also worth noting: as a US citizen re-entering the country you do not have to present anything more to a customs agent than your passport. But as a practical matter they can detain you and do a more intense search than they would if you didn't dig your heels in and silently hand them your passport. You'd be surprised how intrusive a search absent reasonable suspicion can be at the border - they just don't have the…

again, it depends on your definition of liberty. I take a hardline stance. to confirm: this is absolutely not recommended for everyone. The demeanor of your CBP officer shifts quite unpleasantly when you decide not to answer them. They will begin to lie to you about the events taking place, as its their job.

This information is also valid for CBP stops inside the US while traveling by automobile. Your passport or drivers license should be all that is required. No questions.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#126

Post by kylec »

chrisseaton wrote: post #38
fromthestart wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Everyone already has a passport. I'm pretty sure most native born citizens don't get passports unless and until they make plans to travel internationally.

Isn’t that risky - what if you suddenly have to travel with business and there’s a delay getting a passport?

This is a feature. "Oh, sorry Mr. Boss, I can't go on that trip because I don't have a passport"

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#127

Post by kylec »

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 have a passport. If I needed one I'd get one, but the need has yet to arise.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#128

Post by monetus »

JohnFen wrote: post #85
gumby wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

> Personally I rarely carry any ID at all I do usually carry ID, but (except for flying) I can't remember the last time I actually had to show it to anybody.

If you ever pass out and wake up in a hospital, its nice to have one on you.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#130

Post by ceejayoz »

afpx wrote: post #55
pavel_lishin wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I used to be skeptical of this stuff, too. Then, we had 18 years of no major terrorist attacks. We had 17 years of no major terrorist attacks that involved airplanes prior to 9/11; if you count the foiled plot, you could bump it down to six: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_airliner_bombing_a... And we've had plenty of terrorist attacks since 9/11, we just don't call them that - we call them "lone wolves":…

None of those meet the “Major” criteria.

58 dead and 851 injuries isn't major?
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