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Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

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Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#241
post #169

This to me is part of a general trend wherein only those with the awareness and resources required will have privacy. For example, if you do have the funds, send a private shopper. But an even more direct example is skipping the discounts associated with club cards for privacy reasons. This will further entrench the class divide between the wealthy and the rest of us.

Why should I care to keep what I buy at the grocery store private? I'm not trying to be flippant with this question. I'm just honestly perplexed why this is an important dateset to keep private. Also, why would I want to avoid discounts? Grocery stores are one of the few places that gives me money for handing them my data. Isn't this good behavior!?

Others have mentioned specific reasons, but another aspect to consider is that once you've given up any kind of data, it's out of your hands. Maybe you can't think of a reason why that's bad today, but will that be true tomorrow, or next year?

By making the decision that it's fine today, you're also deciding that it's always going to be fine in the future.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#243
post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What you buy at a grocery store can reveal a lot about you: - Personal care products: gender - Medications: age/health of you and family members - Magazines/media: political affiliation, social class The list goes on. [Edit: formatting]

Yes, you can infer a lot based on grocery store purchases. I don't deny it - but why does it matter? What bad things have happened to the average person based on grocery store purchase history? Again, i'm not trying to be flippant with my questions I'm honestly just frustrated after decades of following privacy discussions that there isn't a clear answer to this question.

I wonder this too, but perhaps your insurance company buys this data on you and says, oh, they drink sugary drinks and eat candy and chips. They are buying Tylenol and ibuprofen for chronic pain. Maybe they will get diabetes and we should raise their premiums accordingly.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#244

There are a great deal of things many Americans are not aware of. Also, what about non - Americans?

A headline that just said "Customers" here would be far less precise. (Isn't normally the complain that Americans think themselves all that matter in the world, a la "World Series" or "World Champions" for sports leagues that span just two countries? Can't win either way, I guess!)

>A headline that just said "Customers" here would be far less precise.

"Shoppers" then. That would be more correct.

>(Isn't normally the complain that Americans think themselves all that matter in the world, a la "World Series" or "World Champions" for sports leagues that span just two countries? Can't win either way, I guess!)

All part of it.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The industrial revolution divided the world into those who had capital (owned factories, tools, land, etc.) and those who produced labor (worked in the factories, used the tools, worked the land, etc.). Those on the side of labor couldn't provide value without access to capital where it could be used. Conversely, those with capital need labor to extract value from it. The factories don't run themselves. In theory, th…

The division happened when transitioning from hunter gatherers (which didn't need possessions, just hard work) to agriculture, where land became a prized possession.

> The division happened when transitioning from hunter gatherers (which didn't need possessions, just hard work)

I am sure hunter gatherer societies were also very territorial. If the area you are hunting or gathering does doesn’t have much animals or plants, all the hard work won’t get you nearly as much food as someone who has a lot of plants and animals on their land.

And if you don’t think early humans were territorial just take a look at chimpanzees or even lions. Being tribal and territorial goes back a long ways.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Americans seem to focus on themselves more than other nationalities.

They polled 31k Americans for this, what do you want the article title to be?

Some shop uses face recognition. Who cares enough to bother finding that out? (not to say it isn't important) It hardly indicates a social trend.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, you have to send them a picture of yourself when you sign up, like you do for a passport or a drivers license. It gets attached to your account and when you get on the boat you are given an ID card to use to make onboard purchases and to disembark from the boat. Every time you leave or get on the boat they make sure the photo on your account matches who you say you are.

Is this a post-COVID thing? I've been on about a dozen cruises, most on Royal Caribbean ships, and they have always taken a photo at check in. I've never submitted one in advance.

I took a cruise about five years ago, it was a smaller line, no photos were involved. I don’t think I’d submit to them either.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#248
post #9
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use a brand new apple ID (each of which requires a burner number to create) for each and every device, and I don't attach payment info to the account (free apps only), and I don't put SIM cards in them (apple receives the device serial and sim card serial when you insert one), I don't use iCloud/FaceTime/iMessage, I keep location services off at all times, and I only allow them internet access via a VPN-only router…

What’s the point of a smart phone if you only have WiFi and no gps?

I have a separate battery powered device that does LTE backhaul and VPN and provides wifi, on which I have root and iptables/tcpdump.

This way the VPN can't be bypassed on the phone, and I can inspect and filter traffic.

Uber can be used by entering an address (eg one a block down from my house) with location services off. The only things I really miss out on are things that don't work at all without location, like the snap map or tinder.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, you have to send them a picture of yourself when you sign up, like you do for a passport or a drivers license. It gets attached to your account and when you get on the boat you are given an ID card to use to make onboard purchases and to disembark from the boat. Every time you leave or get on the boat they make sure the photo on your account matches who you say you are.

Is this a post-COVID thing? I've been on about a dozen cruises, most on Royal Caribbean ships, and they have always taken a photo at check in. I've never submitted one in advance.

Cruises are international travel, so I'm surprised anyone would be surprised by ID checks.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, you have to send them a picture of yourself when you sign up, like you do for a passport or a drivers license. It gets attached to your account and when you get on the boat you are given an ID card to use to make onboard purchases and to disembark from the boat. Every time you leave or get on the boat they make sure the photo on your account matches who you say you are.

Is this a post-COVID thing? I've been on about a dozen cruises, most on Royal Caribbean ships, and they have always taken a photo at check in. I've never submitted one in advance.

I submitted a photo in 2018 as well, probably as part of an online pre-registration. I think during this particular trip the lady also retook our photos with her tablet.
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