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Senators Say TSA’s Facial Recognition Program Is Out of Control | You can opt out of facial recognition at airports, for now, but the TSA wants to make the invasive technology a requirement (gizmodo.com)

submitted 6 days ago by ForgottenFlux@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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A bipartisan group of 12 senators has urged the Transportation Security Administration’s inspector general to investigate the agency’s use of facial recognition, saying it poses a significant threat to privacy and civil liberties.

“This technology will soon be in use at hundreds of major and mid-size airports without an independent evaluation of the technology’s precision or an audit of whether there are sufficient safeguards in place to protect passenger privacy,” the senators wrote.

“While the TSA claims facial recognition is optional, it is confusing and intimidating to opt out of TSA’s facial recognition scans, and our offices have received numerous anecdotal reports of Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) becoming belligerent when a traveler askes to opt out, or simply being unaware of that right,” the senators wrote. They added that in some airports the signage instructing flyers to step in front of a camera is prominently displayed while signs advising passengers of their right to opt out of face scan is “strategically placed in inconspicuous locations.”

To opt out of a face scan at an airport, a traveler need only say that they decline facial recognition. They can then proceed normally through security by presenting an identification document, such as a driver’s license or passport.

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[–] Snapz@lemmy.world 13 points 5 days ago (3 children)

Got a lot of attitude when telling them I preferred to opt out. Signs posted everywhere informing you of the right and the agent felt so put upon when asked. To the point that I mentioned to supervisor and she tried to over apologize like she cares and was going to talk to the agent, but she didn't give a shit. It's an intimidation/peer pressure thing, also they do scan your face, and then you can ask them to discard after the fact... But how many of us think that data is actually "gone" after they've collected it?

More likely you still have a scan somewhere in system, now just with an added flag labeling you as a difficult

[–] TheFriar@lemm.ee 10 points 5 days ago

When I opt out, they keep telling me “we delete the photo after you leave.” Are you deleting the data of my face though? Fuck off with that noise, I ain’t fuckin fallin for it

[–] jagged_circle@feddit.nl 10 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

We know for a fact that its not gone.

What they say is that the TSA deletes it locally. They dont make any claim that other agencies that they send it to delete it. Read their claims carefuly.

[–] Brodysseus@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

That sucks. I've never had an issue opting out after finding out it's possible, maybe done it 7 or 8 times. I smile and ask "is it possible to opt out of that?"

I'm curious if something would happen if they told you no, when you do in fact have that right. I'm so anxious when I'm there (about nothing, just an anxious guy) that if they told me I couldn't opt out I'd just fall in and let the thing scan me.