- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.world
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.
When I attended a conference at the UN, there was but a tiny fraction of the amount of security required to enter then is required to go through an airport. Yet, I still felt more safe at the UN.
I have a friend who traveled the entire world. He said flying in the US was worse than anywhere else. Anywhere else included over 70 different countries.
E it’s all just security theater
Right, that’s the worst part.
Frankly, I think the worst part is that TSA agents are far more likely to steal things out of your luggage than any random person on the street. It’s a real problem.
Yes, they also, at a very high rate, miss dangerous items hidden in luggage. The thing is, however, in real life, it is extraordinarily rare that anyone would try to do that. 99% of the time, it’s a TSA agent freaking out over fingernail, clippers, or some silly thing like that.
I’m most concerned about the ridiculous cost of it all, and how much better that money could be spent.
They used to freak out over face wash or a moisturizer that was over the size limit, and now they don’t even check. As far as I’m concerned that’s just them admitting it was stupid to begin with. They’re all stupid. The organization is stupid. Everything is stupid! Gaaaah! Okay, I’m done. Thanks for listening.
That’s all because the rules changed. I forget exactly when, what and how.
People hate the “government” because the employees have to follow rules and have zero discretion. You can see liberals and conservatives alike bitching about whatever, but it mostly comes to the same bitch, the guy behind the desk is bound by hard and fast rules.
Note: This does not apply to the private sector, who we all mostly deal with. So it comes as a surprise when the gubermint insists on “idiotic” rules. Those employees don’t get to bend even a tiny bit.
Another note: The TSA in particular, fuck me. By their own rules, passengers cannot argue an agent’s discretion. You can read that for yourself on their webpage. Had to throw out a few bullets in Tulsa because the agent insisted they must be contained in a particular sort of box. No, the TSA page doesn’t say that, only that bullets must be in an “appropriate” container, such as they were shipped in. No, you don’t get to argue. Whew. There’s my bitch.
Meanwhile our politicians just throw rules to the wayside and do whatever they want. It’s frustrating. Oh, they’re also the ones who come up with idiotic rules like size limits on liquids, as if you couldn’t combine two of the same liquids together once you get passed security. It’s just arbitrary stupidity.
Check ebay for TSA items. You can get 100 nice Swiss Army Knives for a couple of bucks each. Or fuck it, buy by the pound.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=tsa+swiss+army+knife+bulk&_sacat=0&_odkw=tsa+swiss+army+knife&_osacat=0
Seriously, put TSA in the search and see what all you find.
EDIT: I note prices have risen in the past couple of years. People are buying the bulk lots, fixing up the knives and flipping 'em. I should do that.
I’m not sure which I find more interesting: this practice, or that you know so much about it to be able to comment on a differentiation of trends over several years.
No judgment. It just sounds like there’s a story there.
Learned about TSA eBay sales on reddit a few years ago. Bought a 50-pack of Swiss Army knives to restore for office stocking stuffers. Went from there.
To be stupidly fair, they are familiar with what a nail clipper looks like so it’s easy for them to find and screen them.
But if a legit bomb part went through security, they’d probably not recognize it due to its novelty.
The next bomb through TSA is going to be some popular toy like a Tickle Me Elmo or some other shit.