this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2024
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  • 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.
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[–] [email protected] 24 points 2 months ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

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)

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Stupid privacy people. What's the worst that could happen? A fascist coming into power next year who could misuse the data?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Minority Report

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago (8 children)

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

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago (5 children)

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

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

I'm going to assume they can photgraph you the moment you walk into the airport.

I used to be extra during the TSA body scan BS. And honestly, I felt like they won.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

They'll always win because they can just prevent you from flying.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

They pulled me in a private room when I refused to body scan and my bag was suspicious.

It was an extra 25 minutes. Enough to be inconvenient as they tried to find two available TSA agents willing to body check me then check every single item in my suitcase.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I tried to refuse the face scan and they looked at me like I just grew eye stalks. After a long pause, I said never mind I need to catch this flight, let's do it.

It's not a hill I'm willing to die on, even though I'm disappointed with the practice.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

I refused, it went fine. I had to repeat myself because it was unexpected and dudebro wasn't prepared, and they had to turn on the other machine and wait for it to start up, but it only delayed me like 2 minutes. The more people ask, the easier it gets.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That's the fun part about the war for privacy. We have already lost and if you make a big deal about it they're just going to make your life hell!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

It's not such a binary thing as winning or losing, it's a constantly shifting process. The only way to actually lose is by giving up -- instead, consider it making it as hard as possible for your privacy to be infringed upon. Sometimes it's more inconvenient, but what makes us such a farmable populace is our reluctance to be inconvenienced. Be good at being uncomfortable.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I find stupid to give away my biometric data to everyone asking for it just because I gave it away once in exchange of my passport, but I guess that's just me.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (5 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

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€

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

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.

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