Sell? Is US paying for it?
The EU is about to sell our most sensitive data to the US for visa-free travel
121–130 of 376 posts
Re: The EU is about to sell our most sensitive data to the US for visa-free travel
#122This is exactly what the EU does for foreigners entering
It would be the same if US also shared US nationals fingerprints with EU.
Re: The EU is about to sell our most sensitive data to the US for visa-free travel
#123Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is a clear difference between a local system that has access to your data, and a foreign one. You have no way to vote the foreign entity out of power, and have no say over what they are doing with your data
> have no say over what they are doing with your data It seems like you already have no say over what they're doing with your data, and they're selling it to the US.
We (Europeans) have a say, there are mechanisms to block the EU council, such as European courts. We also have representatives that we elect. We don’t have similar things for the US
Re: The EU is about to sell our most sensitive data to the US for visa-free travel
#124Earlier quoted context omitted.
They're identical but countries pretend they're different. I got an evisa when I went to Indonesia and India. For each country, the process involved uploading a picture, filling in some basic details, and paying a fee. I was approved in 30 seconds for each. I'm pretty sure it was automatic. ESTA is supposed to be a lower hurdle than a visa. But from what I've heard, approvals take longer and quite a few people get re…
ESTAs used to be instant for me, but last time I got one (2023) it took 2 days The US is particularly bad as you need an ESTA to transit. I had a friend nearly caught out by that on a flight from London to Lima which involved changing in Miami. When changing plane from an international to international flight in most countries you get off a plane, maybe go through security, and then get on another plane. In the US th…
The same rules in Canada and Mexico.
Re: The EU is about to sell our most sensitive data to the US for visa-free travel
#125Earlier quoted context omitted.
Most countries' passports don't include fingerprint data. The US passport application process is entirely digital/by mail, for example, with no fingerprinting at all.
EU passports do.
new ones yes but mine is still valid for the next 2.5 years and doesn't.
When passports are valid for 10 years there is always a bit of inertia.
Re: The EU is about to sell our most sensitive data to the US for visa-free travel
#126Re: The EU is about to sell our most sensitive data to the US for visa-free travel
#127Earlier quoted context omitted.
Does the EU really collect that, or only sometimes? I know the EU reserves the right to collect all that, but do they in practice? I haven't been to the EU in a decade, but last time I was there I was standing in the customs line for non-EU residents and someone official saw my US passport in hand and directed me to the much shorter/faster EU citizens line. I walked right through customs without being checked at all.
10 years ago I walked right past the French immigration officer by accident because I didn't know where I was going. He yelled at me to get back in line, quickly stamped my passport and then shooed my along. EU has become a lot more like the US. I'd probably been detained if I had done that in the US. Last year visiting Switzerland they had these machines that auto adjust a camera to your height and there was no way…
> Now it being digitized there is no wiggle room on exit/entry.
Yes. Because the primary issue is it was too easy to fly under the radar once you were in the Schengen zone.
Also in 2026 there are security threats which means tighter borders is a necessity.
Clearly in 2026, the easiest way to achieve compliance at all Schengen borders accross 29 countries is to digitise it, including biometrics.
Yes, to put it politely, there have been "teething issues" in its implementation. But given the sheer scale of the change, that is only to be expected. I think any of us working in tech would agree that it would be delusional to think such a thing would be perfect from day zero.
Re: The EU is about to sell our most sensitive data to the US for visa-free travel
#128The point missing in the article is that, in order to enter the US, one needs to give the US Govt their photo and fingerprints ("biometric data") anyway. There are two options: visa-free with the biometric data passing on the wire (no hassle), or visa (a major hassle) and biometric data passing in the airport (a minor one). As a side note, the EU also collects photo and fingerprints from visitors now. Whereas in the…
This all reminds me about how RealID was vital to secure us from terrorism, and it took 20 years to get it in place... with no significant terrorist actions in that timeframe.
IMHO this level of tracking ain't worth the safety gained. Seems like safety gain is just the excuse at this point.
Re: The EU is about to sell our most sensitive data to the US for visa-free travel
#129I fail to understand the distinction between an ESTA and a visa to be honest. You need to do the paperwork in advance, pay, provide all sort of personal information, and it can be denied, and if approved only for a limited amount of time. Given that both the EU and the UK have reciprocated, it is a fiction that there exists some visa free travel between these 3 zones. And the more hassle you create, the less tourism…
It's to get around bilateral arrangements where counties have mutually agreed to not require visas (IE visa-on-arrival).
This allows doing visa type checks but not technically violating the agreement as it's not called a visa.
Re: The EU is about to sell our most sensitive data to the US for visa-free travel
#130What a stupid, hysterical claim. This "sensitive data" is just what's on your passport, fingerprints, criminal history, and terrorism flags (from European agencies), only for people crossing the border. I don't see how you could defend not sharing any of that.
...uhm
You are happy to share your home address and everything else to securely identify you to a government acting increasingly erratic?
Because I am not.
I would be happy if terrorism-flagged people are shared across borders, but not everyone.
Remember once the dataset is there, it is not ever going to go away, regardless of who is in power