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I Opted Out of Facial Recognition at the Airport – It Wasn't Easy

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Re: I Opted Out of Facial Recognition at the Airport – It Wasn't Easy

#11

Airport is about the only places that I have no problem with being Facial Recognition as long as the data is correctly handled because it contributes to the safety of so many parties.

Less than 1 month ago, CBP was breached and lost ~100k facial recognition and license plate photos: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/06/21/hacked-...

Re: I Opted Out of Facial Recognition at the Airport – It Wasn't Easy

#12
post #3

Very click-baity. Below the only part that actually relates to the title: The announcement came as we began to board. Last month, I was at Detroit’s Metro Airport for a connecting flight to Southeast Asia. I listened as a Delta Air Lines staff member informed passengers that the boarding process would use facial recognition instead of passport scanners. As a privacy-conscious person, I was uncomfortable boarding this…

Agreed about the clickbaity title, but what they were trying to imply is still true. Here's an example of Jake Williams attempting to opt-out of Delta facial scanning and immediately being scrutinized for it: https://twitter.com/MalwareJake/status/1144789516684877824

Re: I Opted Out of Facial Recognition at the Airport – It Wasn't Easy

#13
post #3

Very click-baity. Below the only part that actually relates to the title: The announcement came as we began to board. Last month, I was at Detroit’s Metro Airport for a connecting flight to Southeast Asia. I listened as a Delta Air Lines staff member informed passengers that the boarding process would use facial recognition instead of passport scanners. As a privacy-conscious person, I was uncomfortable boarding this…

Going against implicit expectations of others and being the only one who does something is maybe the hardest thing humans can do.

Opting out could risk holding up the boarding process, possibly missing the flight, unpleasant treatment by security and being pitted against the other passengers - all of it to opt out of something is clearly a dark pattern.

All of this is very well understood by the people who designed this system.

Articles like that and some of the comments in this thread at least give me an idea what opting out would take.

Re: I Opted Out of Facial Recognition at the Airport – It Wasn't Easy

#14
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In particular, they did not say what was "not easy" about it. Where there delayed significantly?

She just had to walk around a bit, presumably because the people at the gate weren't familiar with what to do when someone wants to opt-out. I guess that qualifies as "not easy", because it's a meaningless statement that can be justified by the slightest inconvenience.

I think "easy" should at the very least include "you're notified that it's even possible".

Re: I Opted Out of Facial Recognition at the Airport – It Wasn't Easy

#15
Even if you opt out of the boarding pass/passport scanner facial recognition etc. you're still not technically opting out.

There's quite a few CCTV cameras in airports. They've most likely (definitely) got some sort of facial recognition software connected to them.

Re: I Opted Out of Facial Recognition at the Airport – It Wasn't Easy

#16
I don't understand the problem here.

How does the facial recognition system work? I'm thinking that biometric passports contain the necessary data and that the airline has already got then by scanning the passport at some point so that it quick and easy to use facial recognition at boarding time.

If so, it's pointless to request to opt out while boarding, really.

In any case, there is no anonymity in air travel (this is really more about anonymity than privacy). You are identified and tracked from the moment you buy your ticket until you leave the airport.

Facial recognition is a new technology that people need to adapt and be confident with. It will take some time then no-one will pay attention anymore.

Re: I Opted Out of Facial Recognition at the Airport – It Wasn't Easy

#17
Peripherally related. I needed a new passport, and applied online for one. The online application kept rejecting my photo which I had taken by a pharmacy specifically approved for taking passport photos. It said that my eyes were too shaded or had too much shadow. I tried everything with levels and contrast. I gave up and started messing with the application software. I cut the eyes out a different photo in the Mac Preview.app application. I lined up the eyes and thought they looked pretty good, then uploaded the photo. The application doesn't give a pass/fail, it just submits and its off. I have traveled quite extensively on this passport, including going to some countries that are pretty uptight about security. I'm sure I behave like a drug dealer going through security.

Re: I Opted Out of Facial Recognition at the Airport – It Wasn't Easy

#18
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In particular, they did not say what was "not easy" about it. Where there delayed significantly?

She just had to walk around a bit, presumably because the people at the gate weren't familiar with what to do when someone wants to opt-out. I guess that qualifies as "not easy", because it's a meaningless statement that can be justified by the slightest inconvenience.

requiring opting out is a huge barrier as shown in behavioural economics and definitely makes it "not easy" especially if no one else is seen to be doing it

Re: I Opted Out of Facial Recognition at the Airport – It Wasn't Easy

#19
post #3

Very click-baity. Below the only part that actually relates to the title: The announcement came as we began to board. Last month, I was at Detroit’s Metro Airport for a connecting flight to Southeast Asia. I listened as a Delta Air Lines staff member informed passengers that the boarding process would use facial recognition instead of passport scanners. As a privacy-conscious person, I was uncomfortable boarding this…

Agreed. What is the privacy concern of allowing face recognition if you are letting them scan your passport?

Re: I Opted Out of Facial Recognition at the Airport – It Wasn't Easy

#20
post #3

Very click-baity. Below the only part that actually relates to the title: The announcement came as we began to board. Last month, I was at Detroit’s Metro Airport for a connecting flight to Southeast Asia. I listened as a Delta Air Lines staff member informed passengers that the boarding process would use facial recognition instead of passport scanners. As a privacy-conscious person, I was uncomfortable boarding this…

Going against implicit expectations of others and being the only one who does something is maybe the hardest thing humans can do. Opting out could risk holding up the boarding process, possibly missing the flight, unpleasant treatment by security and being pitted against the other passengers - all of it to opt out of something is clearly a dark pattern. All of this is very well understood by the people who designed t…

I'm always sad when I'm the only one opting for a patdown at the airport after Defcon.
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