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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

#181

Post by afpx »

sneak wrote: post #53
afpx wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

How do we not have a totalitarian state? You can't publish evidence of state war crimes without the CIA doing a character assassination job on you (pending a real assassination). You can't travel anonymously. You can't publish anonymously. You can't make bank transfers out of the country for arbitrary purposes. You can't deposit or withdraw cash above a trivial amount without significant scrutiny which is reported to…

Oh, you’re not American? Kind of overstepping a little.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#182

Post by georgespencer »

sensecall wrote: post #162
georgespencer wrote: post #134

Fun fact: the passport gates at UK airports appear to be biometric, but aren't. You step into a little gate, place your passport photo page down onto a scanner, and look into a camera for a photograph. The thing which slows folks down at passport gates (and the reason the best passport control agents don't have a jocular welcoming patter) is the hello/goodbye/talking around the manual "look at your face, look at your…

I was told that many of them are also not automated, but manned behind the scenes, Mechanical Turk style.

That's exactly right (and what I was trying to say!) :)

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#183

Post by billybrown »

Welcome to the NEW WORLD ORDER, everything that is happening was planned a very long time ago. and enjoy it america. Only in the movies is there a HERO who stands up.

In real life america, Americans are afraid of their own government. And most Americans know 911 was an inside job and what did they do.. they went back to their jobs and paid their taxes.

here is a video of what the firefighters said after the world trade center https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSXUGR2g9HU

and in the words of a famous comedian... go back to sleep america and buy these products.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#184

Post by [deleted] »

chrisseaton wrote: post #174
JohnFen wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I assumed Americans would want the same kind of basic freedom to move between countries? If you're in the US, going to a different country is a major undertaking unless you happen to live near the Canadian or Mexican border, regardless of whether you have a passport or not. Casual international travel is just not a thing for most people.

> If you're in the US, going to a different country is a major undertaking unless you happen to live near the Canadian or Mexican border How come it’s seen as pretty normal to go for example from the UK to New York for a weekend, even a middle class couple might do a Christmas shopping weekend like that once a year, but the opposite, the same distance and cost, is seen as a major undertaking?

[deleted]

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#185

Post by [deleted] »

alasdair_ wrote: post #145
gumby wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never make a big deal of it, just say casually, "sorry, I don't have any ID with me". If they really want something I hand over a credit card or business card. In general nobody really has a need for ID and would rather not lose your business. You show up with an Amex platinum card and a haircut no hotel is going to deny you a room just because you don't have ID. When you fly without ID (note: this is different fro…

> some federal courthouses for some reason That's interesting. I wonder what happens if you're a defendant and they won't let you in the building?

[deleted]

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#186

Post by AznHisoka »

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…

That is what I thought as well. Sometimes if I am in a bad mood/snarky and they ask me what I do for a living, I just say “computers”. They always ask me “computer what? engineer? programmer?” I simply respond back “computer! computer!” and they just angrily let me go.

I do this not because I want to be mean but to show them these questions are a pointless waste of time. I mean there are thousands of people who dont speak a word of english who return back. I doubt they can understand these officers, much less respond to them.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#187

Post by sneak »

jandrese wrote: post #98
sneak wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did this every time I re-entered the US for several years. After a few times, they took to arresting me for 4-10 hours on EVERY ENTRY, sending busses without me, making me miss connecting flights, et c. One time I was locked in a room without food, water, or medication for 12 hours. (FWIW, I'm white, a US citizen, employed, and wealthy-by-most-standards-but-not-by-HNs.) They'd sometimes simply intimidate me, someti…

You definitely got put on the "probable drug smuggler" list. Luckily you seem to have fallen off of that list but if you went back to your old behavior I'm sure you could find your way back on it.

You’d think that someone smuggling drugs would not tell the customs agents “none of your business” when asked where they are going. I did.

Or, when searched a dozen times, would have drugs. I didn’t.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#188

Post by vkou »

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?

If you have to travel for business, you can, at least in Canada, pay a premium processing fee to skip the queue.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#189

Post by dawnerd »

Symbiote wrote: post #178
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.

I think every time I enter the European Union as a citizen (crossing the border in Denmark, Germany, the UK, France, the Netherlands or Spain) I've either not interacted with anyone (electronic border gate), or said nothing more than "hello" and "thank you". Speaking to a customs official is very rare, I've only had that happen once. Do most Americans get questioned at their own border? I do, but I'd assumed that was…

As an American entering the EU, I wasn't asked anything either. Just handed my passport, stamped, on my way.

Similar thing although with a few more questions entering Canada. Usually it's just, do you have anything to declare - which seems like a perfectly acceptable thing to ask.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#190

Post by bdamm »

Symbiote wrote: post #178
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.

I think every time I enter the European Union as a citizen (crossing the border in Denmark, Germany, the UK, France, the Netherlands or Spain) I've either not interacted with anyone (electronic border gate), or said nothing more than "hello" and "thank you". Speaking to a customs official is very rare, I've only had that happen once. Do most Americans get questioned at their own border? I do, but I'd assumed that was…

As a Canadian, I get questioned on entry to Canada every time. I assume it is the same for Americans; the borders are configured very similarly.
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