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.
Any data released in what percentage are refusing it? This hardly seems necessary to make it mandatory - I’ve never seen anyone refuse it in my many hours standing in TSA lines. I’ve also never been asked if I have a preference, only told in a typical grumpy Tsa voice to look at the camera. There are cameras all over the damn airport - I don’t believe they aren’t capturing and potentially using recognition algorithms on other cameras as well.
I think its great to see there are a few spines left on Capitol Hill interested in pushing back a bit though.
I didn’t know until today that you could opt out of it
Every airport I’ve gone through that’s doing it has half a dozen signs up as you move through the line telling you that you can opt out by letting them know you want to.
Ever try it or see somebody do it?
I’ve done it 7 or 8 times, I just ask if it’s possible to opt out. Never had an issue.
Yeah I’ve opted out every time (a couple times each at three different airports) and haven’t had any issues, the agents I’ve seen knew exactly what to do if someone opts out.
Always assume you can opt-out. Worst case scenario, they tell you that you can’t, and then if you find out later that you can, you can sue for a 4th amendment violation.
Read all the signs at the checkpoint. They are important.
I’m visually impaired so it’s entirely possible I missed them
Let’s be real they are only pushing back because they haven’t received their cut yet