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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

#111

Post by diminoten »

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…

They haven't even collected the form from me the last two times I've gone through re-entry.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#114

Post by cblades »

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…

Ah, from your other comments I thought you were an American for some reason. That makes sense.

I think the difference is the size of the US. I've traveled a fair bit for work, but never been asked to leave the country. Jobs that do require international travel often explicitly say so in the description and say you must have a passport.

As far as freedom to travel, unless you happen to be on the northern or southern border, you can't just hop on a plane and travel out of country on a whim. It's just flat-out not as easy to travel to other countries here as it is in Europe.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#116

Post by rdschouw »

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"

The passport is to prove US citizenship. Otherwise you cannot reasonably distinguish between permanent residents and citizens. Both can have a driver's license. Visa holders can have a driver's license too but it mentions the expiration date of your visa.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#117

Post by OldManAndTheCpp »

docker_up wrote: post #109
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…

I understand the need to exercise freedom, and I do this when in line for TSA. I opt for hand-screening usually. But I don't see what the point is in not answering where you visited. I'm pretty sure they already have this information so there's no point in hiding it, in my opinion. Plane tickets, hotel bookings, credit card usage, etc all will tell an easy tale as to where you were and what you did.

Arguably defending the right to refuse to testify.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#118

Post by intopieces »

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…

I thought those questions were more to gauge whether you were a victim of human trafficking than anything else. The details they have asked always seemed innocuous enough. Business or pleasure, how long did you stay, stuff like that. Nothing I wouldn’t tell a guy sitting next to me on the flight.

Re: Americans can opt out of airport facial recognition

#120

Post by ukyfngim »

orblivion wrote: post #59
mieseratte wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I opt for a pat-down every time. I doubt this will put me on any worse of a list. Thanks for sharing OP!

I stopped opting out because I didn't see the point to continue. The opt-out moment is over. One could argue it contributed to getting rid of the more dangerous backscatter devices, but the millimeter waves remain. If it comes back for another reason I will rejoin for the duration. But I personally am not so shy that I care about a body scan. It seemed upon reflection that it was just vanity or resentment on my point…

> I was just inconveniencing myself.

Oh, you put up the scanners, hired folks to do pat downs, are requiring me to take off my shoes, remove my laptop, etc?

I thought that was the TSA. Would you please stop?

The current approach is making us less safe, and we'd all be better off with the pre-9/11 security framework.

Edit: By "we" I mean Americans. America's enemies would be SOL.

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