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Traveling this summer? Maybe don’t let the airport scan your face.

  • Travelers can opt out of facial recognition at US airports by requesting manual ID verification, though resistance or intimidation may occur.
  • Facial recognition poses privacy risks, including potential data breaches, misidentification, and normalization of surveillance.
  • The Algorithmic Justice League’s “Freedom Flyers” campaign aims to raise awareness of these issues and encourage passengers to exercise their right to opt out.
Wilzax ,

I figure that by being in the airport there’s enough footage of my face from security cameras that I didn’t consent to (other than by being in public) that the scan of my face while boarding is moot.

Opting out of this face scan in particular is like using Chrome to browse the web, but searching with DuckDuckGo “for privacy reasons”

Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In ,

There’s probably a huge difference in resolution.

Wilzax ,

Sure, but what’s stopping them from just adding whatever high res cameras they want in their terminals and jet bridges anyway? How can we be sure they aren’t already doing that? The only thing the face scan does that those cameras can’t is require you to lower your mask.

Spedwell ,

As the article points out, TSA is using this tech to improve efficiency. Every request for manual verification breaks their flow, requires an agent to come address you, and eats more time. At the very least, you ought not to scan in the hopes that TSA metrics look poor enough they decide this tech isn’t practical to use.

Cryophilia ,

More likely they’ll just remove the option to opt out

Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In ,

Sure, but what’s stopping them from just adding whatever high res cameras they want in their terminals and jet bridges anyway?

Budget probably.

ulterno ,
@ulterno@lemmy.kde.social avatar

Yeah, because just adding high-res cameras is not good enough.
They will need a good quality data transfer network with it and also have to use higher powered computers for data processing, to get whatever they want out of those videos.

They might even have to pay shriek C++ devs to rewrite their Python prototype into a more efficient production code (and considering how hard it is to find devs that actually know what they are doing…).

TonyOstrich ,

There is a reason I wear a large hat and a mask when walking through the airport and generally keep my head tilted down. I also wear large sunglasses, but that’s as much because every airport has at least one giant wall that is nothing but glass and inevitably I will walk around a corner and get face fucked by the sun. The privacy is just a bonus 😅

NewAgeOldPerson ,

I went thru naturalization process. They have everything already. Including DNA, retina scan, etc. So I opted for Clear. Global Entry as well. They have it all already. May as well fast track going thru customs.

WolfLink ,

Clear is run by a 3rd party company. TSA pre-check is run by the government. TSA pre-check comes free with Global Entry, you just need to sign up for it.

NewAgeOldPerson ,

Yeah I have pre because I have had global entry for a while (8 years now I think). Got clear because where I am, it changes wait time from 30 minutes to 5.

slickgoat ,

The game was lost for me when I started getting fingerprinted at certain airports. This privilege used to be reserved for suspected criminals. Now we’re are all suspected criminals on a default setting.

Imhotep ,

For international flights, US citizens can opt out but foreign nationals have to participate in face scanning, [with some exceptions]

I had no idea we were already at that point.

always wanted to visit the US. I guess that won’t happen then.

I refuse to participate in this dystopia. But I’m a little worried this will make me a recluse

LainTrain ,

Trust me you’re already a recluse relative to most by being on here. If you observe what passes for a “normal” “person” these days, they will endlessly scroll algorithmic ai-generated incomprehensible horrors on Tiktok, then purchase something through an ad from temu, they do not think. They are gone.

But once you stop worrying that you may be saying no to experiences too much purely on principle, then you’re free to go even further and eradicate surveillance capitalism influence from your life altogether. One day you can ascend to even go smartphone-free.

rottingleaf ,

One day you can ascend to even go smartphone-free.

Ascended to that in late 2014 because using a smartphone was a trigger for my anxiety.

Back to using those since 2020 because of WhatsApp calls, apps for every shit and such being needed in life.

LainTrain ,

I have two these days, one Google™️ Pixel™️ for all government and job bullshit, and one crappy old riced to hell and back Sony for everything else. No Google play, no SIM, rooted and ROM’d, no problems, just a neat multi tool in a pinch.

rottingleaf ,

OK, I’ll see what I can find

Emerald ,

they will endlessly scroll algorithmic ai-generated incomprehensible horrors on Tiktok

How is that much different from scrolling Lemmy? They are both social media

Cryophilia ,

That’s like saying a Subaru and a submarine are both modes of travel.

LainTrain ,

Because Lemmy is Free, as in Libre and as in free beer, it is open source, and on top of all that, it’s not run for-profit by a single large corporate entity, it’s decentralised structure precludes that by design.

There is nothing actually wrong with websites or forums like this or “social media”, not anymore than there is anything wrong with atoms even if humans found a way to make a weapon of it.

In this case technology is weaponized by capitalism, and they’ll do anything to make you think it’s anything but the corporations who are to blame, misinformation on top of misinformation.

The “mental health effects” of social media or smartphones are all just corporate distractions from the fact all those are really effects of capitalism. Even cryptocurrency isn’t actually bad inherently, I use monero all the time, it’s a great idea actually, especially where power consumption is addressed, but capitalism made it a speculative assets and state backed players wrestle for control. AI too. Open source LLMs benefit everyone, but the lack of tech literacy turned progressives against it and the played right into OpenAI and the rest of those scumbags’ hands.

The fact that those who aren’t immersed in tech don’t know this is why all is lost. For the common man - they won, and it’s all black box products made to exploit people to the last drop.

JackbyDev ,

If you observe what passes for a “normal” “person” these days, they will endlessly scroll algorithmic ai-generated incomprehensible horrors on Tiktok, then purchase something through an ad from temu, they do not think.

Can you just like, not be so damn condescending and elitist? Literally saying people who use TikTok and purchase stuff from Temu are sub-human…

LainTrain ,

Yeah I’m sorry, I just feel pretty strongly about this I guess and Lemmy is one of the few safe places to vent to like-minded folks.

To explain myself a little: It’s not the “normies” that the techy people hate, it’s the perverted messed up world those less savvy in technology live in and everything about it, and with how much we’ve learned to circumvent corporate control it’s often a culture shock to see that people just take it, even stuff like online ads or algorithmic content feeds, stuff I haven’t experienced in probably a decade, like as if that’s just normal, and the sad part is it is for so many.

Imagine if most of the world population was just falling for pyramid schemes or other blatant financial scams constantly. That’s how it feels.

It becomes all too easy to blame the people rather than the systems that led to this, and sometimes it just feels like nobody outside of the hacker circles really gives enough of a shit to take control of the few things they can, and this is late stage capitalism, so I can’t really blame them, we’re all so tired just trying to survive.

JackbyDev ,

If I thought people were just taking it I’d agree, but a lot of people genuinely don’t know what things like ad blockers are. Much less something like using ad guard dns or pi hole. They’ve just never heard of it.

LainTrain ,

But honestly, how?

JackbyDev ,

Tell them!

technocrit ,

Planes <<<<<< trains.

GoogleSellsAds ,
@GoogleSellsAds@sh.itjust.works avatar

You’re too smart for this site. I too love taking trains across both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans!

TechNerdWizard42 ,

I’d actually love to take some sort of sea train, underground tunnel or floating death wave train one day. It wouldn’t be relaxing, peaceful, or cheap. But it would be an adventure.

Warp10Lizard ,

Agreed, but they’ll inevitably fuck those up too.

al4s ,

For distances >600km, flying is usually 4x-10x faster at a similar price. At least in and around Germany. I assume in the US trains compare way worse, also because the distances are way larger.

Examples: “Normal” example: Stuttgart (Germany) -> Amsterdam (Netherlands) Train: 11h 10min - 241€ Plane: 1h 20min - 225€

Best case scenario for train in Germany at around that distance (because there’s a direct connection): München -> Berlin Train: 3h 54min - 167€ Plane: 1h 5min - 226€

Kolrami ,

Hour vs. hour it’s the best form of transportation

You get more space, there’s no TSA, you don’t get charged for bringing luggage, you can carry on liquids, you get leg room, the wifi is decent.

But if I’m traveling a really far distance… For example, if I’m going from California to New York I’d rather go by plane. Going by train for that seems to be pretty horrible. America is in desperate need of a ground transportation that can get from California to New York quickly.

Liz ,

If we put in a mag-lev system that averages 250 mph from station to station, an overnight sleeper train across the country becomes extremely attractive.

Chee_Koala ,

There is a sleeper train from Amsterdam to Vienna, last 2 / 3 years I checked it was sold out almost everyday. It seems like the perfect mode of transport

sugar_in_your_tea ,

if I’m going from California to New York

Yup, that’s like 70-80 hours, depending on where in CA you’re leaving from. So you’ll be on that train for 3 days, and have to change trains 2-4 times. The plus side is that it’s cost-competitive w/ flying ($400-ish, vs $200-ish flying), but that’s for coach, so you’d spend those 3 days sleeping in a chair. If you want a sleeper room, that’s like $2k.

A direct flight would take 5-ish hours and cost $200-ish.

There’s a reason nobody rides trains in the US, and it’s because it takes way too long and it’s too expensive. It would be a fun experience, but not great if you’re using it for transportation.

Fades ,

They are very much incomparable more so than they are comparable. Try taking a train over a sea or across a country like the US.

sugar_in_your_tea ,

Exactly. I live near SLC, and to get to SF would take:

  • ~19 hours by train and cost $92 in coach
  • ~11 hours by car - $60 in gas in my hybrid, $130 in my minivan
  • ~2 hours by plane - <$50 by plane (Frontier)

And that’s a route with a direct train connection, so literally no transfers. So, a train takes way longer, is probably more expensive (esp. if I take family), and I’d probably need a rental car on the other end. And that’s for a “best case” scenario with direct train service.

Screw that, trains anywhere other than the east coast of the US makes pretty much no sense for transportation. As an experience, sure, but not to get from A to B.

ealoe ,

Dumbass article, if you go to an airport your face is all over the security cameras and the checkpoints delete your image immediately after scanning so they are the least of your worries.

BaroqueInMind ,

the checkpoints delete your image immediately after scanning so they are the least of your worries.

I’m going to need a source on this bullshit lie.

ealoe ,

Source: the signs on the device itself at an airport I saw last week, also the TSA website www.tsa.gov/digital-id

The photo is immediately deleted unless clear signage is posted ndicating that the checkpoint is undergoing testing as results may be retained for up to 24mo.

BaroqueInMind ,

How do you know it is auto deleted?

What if it relies on specific personnel to actively purge the database? What if said personnel are poorly trained, low pay, exteme limited time, and simply does not care?

How likely does a TSA agent fall under all of those criteria? (Hint: very likely)

Edit: here’s the fucking clincher directly from their website

During periodic testing and development, TSA and DHS Office of Science and Technology (S&T) may retain passenger data for up to 24 months.

I am pretty sure I read somewhere that they plan to test this system for the next decade. So technically they don’t delete anything due to being a long as fuck period of “testing”.

aodhsishaj ,

That testing period, plus 24 months

ealoe ,

Well if that is the case at your specific airport, you’d know because it would say as much on the sign. You know, like it says in the sentence immediately following the line you quoted.

King3d ,

I refuse to go through the body scanners, but the last time I went through the airport there wasn’t anyone trying to opt-out. I seriously doubt if the radiation perv scanner doesn’t get people to do anything, this won’t either.

Aganim ,

I seriously doubt if the radiation perv scanner doesn’t get people to do anything

You mean the backscatter X-ray units that have already been phased out 10 years ago?

The modern milimeter-wave scanners both do not reveal anything and do not use ionising radiation. If radiation is a concern to you, you really shouldn’t be flying at all to be honest. The dose you get up there is much higher than you’d get from an X-ray scanner, although it is still negligible.

retrospectology ,
@retrospectology@lemmy.world avatar

I did this during an international trip last year coming back into the country. The guy mostly seemed confused and kind of suspicious, but it was nbd.

They will potentially take you out of line to a side room to hand you off to someone else. It seemed to be an area where they deal with any oddball kind of things. There was a lady ahead of me who was more raucus and upset about some issue with her ID. The guy who checked mine mainly seemed kind of bemused, like it was unusual.

Be prepared for “We have the biometric data from your photo already, why do you care?”

You’re not obligated to give them a super detailed justification. Just remain polite and unconfrontational, and explain that you prefer not use the system as long as the right remains afforded to you to opt out.

(Note, this right only extends to US citizens)

Alph4d0g ,

Opt out. If we don’t exercise our rights, we lose them.

"What if they retaliate and make life difficult for me? "

That’s both illegal and against policy. If someone delays your right to travel for this specific reason, delay their job by asking for their supervisor and their name and employee number. Then file a complaint. That will dissuade that public servant (and their leadership) from exhibiting such behavior and encouraging it respectively.

"But they are capturing your image in 10 skillion other public locations."

  1. Sure, and you have the option to create your own privacy in public.
  2. Further, what’s the real purpose of the scanner at the TSA check if they already have that detailed image of your retina, your facial pore patterns and whatever the fsck else they store? They don’t have that level of detail yet on CCTV.

If you don’t care, then that’s fine. Some people don’t mind the slow encroachments on 4th Amendment protections. Cool. Others do. Cool also. That’s why we can opt out.

Petter1 ,

There should exist a law that orders privacy by default forcing all this intrusive stuff to bi opt-in instead of opt-out. With data, it is often to late if it is only opt-out…

Alph4d0g ,

Agreed. This was rolled out without any regard whatsoever for people’s interest in data privacy. That kind of entitled behavior from any government agency is just plain gross.

Blackmist ,

Simply stand away from the camera or keep your face covered with a mask, present your ID, and say, “I opt out of biometrics. I want the standard verification process.”

This sounds like a great way for a SovCit to get a full ass inspection from a sausage-fingered security guard.

The best you’re going to get is redirected to a very long queue of people who’s passports don’t have biometrics.

BetterDev ,

Actually no, they look at your face and your ID, make sure the information matches, and move you along. No secondary inspection, no difference except you didn’t get scanned with facial recognition. It’s the same process as before facial recognition was implemented.

Why even write that comment?

Squizzy ,

Because to get to the guy in the kiosk you have to queue up and that is likely to be long. That is what was stated.

BetterDev ,

I’ve been in and out of DFW, BOS, and JFK since these facial recognition scanners went in and I can tell you with a great deal of confidence that there’s no additional wait time, or queue, or anything else if you opt out. There’s a TSA agent right next to the scanner who collects your ID whether you get scanned or not. That’s the same person who otherwise just checks it if you opt out. What are you even on about? Maybe its different at some airports, but I’ve been opting out every time I fly and it’s no big deal.

Squizzy ,

I never said it was a big deal at all, it isnt.

But there is an increased likelihood of a queue when opting for the non automated route. It is the reason automation is implemented.

I too have been throuhh airports, it has never bothered me but if you dont go through the automated queue you might face a longer queue because a lot of previously manual customs real estate is given over to automation now.

BetterDev , (edited )

¯*(ツ)*/¯ maybe, but as long as I have the option and it’s not tedious to do so (which is the case), I’m gonna opt out and encourage others to do so. Fair enough if your perspective is you want to accept whatever new security theater data collection is implemented in exchange for some perceived convenience. Making your case here with me in this conversation has taken more effort on your part than opting out of facial recognition at the security checkpoint in an airport would have, and I find that fact amusingly ironic.

Squizzy ,

I also I never said I prefer the convenience over the privacy. Here is a tip, just because you hold a viewpoint does not mean it is infallible. There ae trade offs. While personally I am scurity and privacy conscious, I was pointing out the barrier for people to opt out, that is all. There is no two ways about it, unless there are a ratoo of 1:1 staff to passengers who opt out there will be a queue. The machines were put in in massive volume far exceeding the number of staff that would ever be checking people through in order to speed up the experience and due to them costing less to run.

I agree with you. You can still be objective and recognise the situation for what it is. A barrier to opting out is the likelihood that the manual check through takes more time. It doesnt have to be significantly more time.

BetterDev ,

And what I’m saying is it doesn’t take more time to opt out in my experience. Its just as quick to get manually verified as to be biometrically scanned.

sugar_in_your_tea ,

Reflectacles are a really good idea if you’re going this route. They can ID you with just an eye scan, and this interferes with that.

csm10495 ,
@csm10495@sh.itjust.works avatar

They have you take your sunglasses off.

sugar_in_your_tea ,

Get clear ones. Most (all?) of those security cameras use IR illumination to ID you, so you can have lenses that allow visible light through, but mess up IR scanning. I think you can get them w/ prescription lenses if you email the creator, so you can legitimately tell them you need your glasses to see (if you need a prescription, that is).

csm10495 ,
@csm10495@sh.itjust.works avatar

If the scan fails, they’ll just ask you to take them off.

sugar_in_your_tea ,

Sure, and I’ll say I don’t consent to take them off, so they’ll need to verify me another way.

csm10495 ,
@csm10495@sh.itjust.works avatar

Then just ask to not be facial scanned. Last airport I went to had signs saying you could opt out.

Then you don’t need weird glasses either.

sugar_in_your_tea ,

I’m less worried about the face scanning (you can opt-out, as you said), I’m more worried about the camera scanning in other parts of the airport. The glasses combat the most common form of face scanning, which uses IR illumination. It also works at grocery stores and whatnot, which is especially important if you’re a POC and likely to be racially profiled as a shoplifter (I’ve read some horror stories).

It does paint a bright red target on my chest since they show up as a massive bright light source on IR feeds (if a security guard happens to watch), so it’s more a form of protest than anything.

StaySquared ,

Interesting how addicted government is to collecting data.

mariahale342 ,

If you already have a passport and opt out of facial recognition, you’re only deluding yourself into a false sense of privacy.

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