Individuals concerned regarding their privacy and biometric data falling into the TSA’s possession have the option to decline undergoing screening procedures.
facial recognition technology
at airports.
Although facial recognition has become routine for many when going through TSA checkpoints, experts emphasize key points to keep in mind. As an example, Travis LeBlanc, a lawyer and ex-member of thePrivacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, highlights important aspects.
told
HuffPost reported that travelers “aren’t required to provide their image to the government, so the government won’t scan it and keep it according to their regulations.”
“TSA forms a segment of the Department of Homeland Security, tasked with managing immigration enforcement as well. These pictures have numerous potential applications,” he noted additionally.
In the meantime, Saira Hussain, a senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, noted that individuals opting out of the TSA facial recognition scans might affect the upcoming screening procedures.
Lower participation might lead the TSA to evaluate “if such initiatives are truly effective,” stated Hussain. “In case of minimal resistance, they may continue implementing increasingly intrusive methods.”
What Other Information Is There Regarding This Screening Technique?
The TSA’s facial recognition
security screening
This particular technology is currently implemented at specific airports. For this process, you approach a Travel Document Checker station where an automated system captures an image of your face. This device then compares your facial characteristics along with details from your identity documents like a passport or ID card containing your photograph to confirm that they match the individual who owns these credentials.
The TSA
emphasizes
Those going through security can choose whether to undergo facial recognition screening. The government agency states that they are enhancing the screening technology to include “clear wording informing passengers that they have the option to refuse having their photograph taken.” Additionally, the TSA mentions that TSOs, or Transportation Security Officers, should “treat every traveler with dignity and guarantee that their privacy is safeguarded.”
The agency asserts that “the photographs are neither stored nor preserved following a successful identification match, with the exception being in a restricted test setting where they’re evaluated for the efficacy of the technology.” Additionally, the TSA mentions that images captured through the facial recognition procedure “won’t be utilized for monitoring purposes or any form of law enforcement activity.”
“The TSA is dedicated to safeguarding traveler privacy, upholding civil rights and liberties, and maintaining public confidence as it aims to enhance the travel experience by exploring identity verification technologies,” the agency further states.
What Steps Should I Take to Opt Out of TSA Biometric Scanning?
The TSA states on its website that passengers choosing not to use facial recognition technology have the right to do so without facing consequences. If someone declines having their photograph captured, they must be provided with “an alternate method for verifying their identity.” This alternative procedure should neither create complications nor delay them more than usual when going through security checkpoints; additionally, it shouldn’t make anyone skip ahead or fall behind in queue lines.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency as well
implements
Facial recognition screening, from which individuals may choose to abstain. If someone requests not to provide a facial image, a CBP officer must then present an alternate procedure.
Travis LeBlanc previously served as a member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, which is an independent federal body aimed at “protecting the country from terrorism [while also] properly protecting privacy and civil liberties.” According to HuffPost, LeBlanc has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government following his dismissal from this watchdog group. It’s said he was among three Democratic appointees removed from their positions on the board.
Trump administration
.
The post
Is It Possible to Decline TSA Facial Recognition at Airports?
first appeared on Travel Noire.
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