US airports are starting to use facial recognition technology to scan passengers’ faces before they board a plane. At least Americans have the option to opt out of the technology.
More than 230 U.S. airports have already begun using facial recognition technology, according to To the site U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the federal agency responsible for border security.
On the other hand, the government claims that facial recognition reduces paper tickets and can be more efficient for travelers. But facial recognition remains imperfect and controversial. Technical problems and reliability issues have plagued the initial rollout of facial recognition at airports, and independent tests Raising questions about the effectiveness of facial recognition algorithms which performed less well on non-white faces.
There are also privacy and legal concerns. Ultimately, CBP doesn’t collect facial recognition data directly—the airlines do.
Delta began scanning the faces of departing passengers starting in 2018. This was soon followed byWhile airlines collect facial scan data to verify the identities of passengers as they board their flights, facial scan data is passed on to the government to check passengers against watch lists, such as those who have overstayed their visas.
The government can keep these images for anywhere from a few hours to several decades, depending on whether you are a citizen. The data is also stored in several government databases, which border agents can pull up when you arrive or leave the United States.
However, if you are an American, opting out is easy, and it is your right.
You may see signs around the airport indicating that you can opt out of facial recognition, but note that there may be no signs at all or signs hidden from view.
despite, CBP Website It explains that US citizens can opt out of these facial scans. “US citizens who do not wish to have their facial images taken under these processes can request alternative processing, which typically involves a manual review of their travel documents by [border agent]”.”
You may also have to cancel your reservation multiple times from the time you arrive at the airport until you get to your plane seat.
Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents (green card holders) can opt out of facial recognition on departing international flights. Anyone, regardless of nationality, can opt out of facial recognition on U.S. domestic flights.
The opt-out process is done by notifying an airline officer or employee at the time of the facial recognition screening. Border officers or airline employees will manually check your passport and boarding pass, in the same way as before the facial recognition system came into effect.
If you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, you cannot opt ​​out of facial recognition. there Some exceptionsLike Canadian citizens who do not need a visa to enter the United States, and holders of diplomatic visas abroad. For Americans (and permanent residents), choosing not to travel is your right, even if it is not always obvious or intuitive based on what you see at the airport.
As a digital rights group, the Electronic Frontier Foundation He says“It may sound cliché, but right now, the key to opting out of facial recognition technology is vigilance.”
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First published on May 13, 2019 and updated on July 29, 2024.