4 ms·

I totally agree with this article. I have TSA pre, have several parties with who are willing to subsidize my clear membership (credit cards, FF programs etc.),

I totally agree with this article. I have TSA pre, have several parties with who are willing to subsidize my clear membership (credit cards, FF programs etc.), and I get super pissed by the line cutting. Yet I refuse to join clear for two reasons. 1) I do not trust a private company to use and protect my biometric data (yes the govt isn’t much better, but that ship sailed when I got a passport/DL). And 2) I think it’s morally wrong to privatize access to federal services.

etrautmann 4y ago
Companies like Clear benefit from the situation being awful, and will thus be invested to maintain the status quo. Much like Intuit lobbying to keep tax preparation difficult to protect their interests providing tax preparation software.
subharmonicon 4y ago
You’re making a choice not to share your biometrics because you don’t trust the company to use and protect your biometric data. Fair enough. Shouldn’t I have the choice to trust them and get the improved service due to their being able to do the biometric check? I’m not sure what you mean by privatizing access to federal services. You still have access to that service. If you mean privatizing the administration of the service, well TSA screeners are staffed by private contractors. If you’re arguing that the federal government should even the playing field and provide the option to supply them with biometrics and get better service as a result (and get Clear out of the way), then I would certainly agree with that. But honestly I am not sure what you’re arguing for, other than denying people access to a service they are willing to make the privacy trade-off for because it bothers you they get through security faster than you do.
kjhkjhkhjkhjk 4y ago
What's morally wrong about validating identity through biometrics?
- toomuchtodo 4y ago
  Nothing, it’s the paid for line cutting that is the problem (with airports getting a cut for enabling it). TSA could do the same biometrics verification, and arguably does with their latest credential authentication tech, where your ID is what is used to proof your travel plans at the agent podium. It’s a short hop to TSA doing facial recognition instead of scanning your ID. With CLEAR, the biometrics are just the theater to enable the venue rev share and traveler benefit (cutting the line). https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/credential-authentication-technology https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/credential-aut...
  - kjhkjhkhjkhjk 4y ago
    The point of the TSA line is to verify your identity. What is the point of waiting if you've already verified your identity?
    - falcolas 4y ago
      Not at all. They're the gatekeepers of the queue for access the inspection area behind the line, where the real bottleneck exists. The ID check is currently an excuse to put that gatekeeper out front; they could do it as part of the inspection area and not impact a single thing. It could even be easily automated (it effectively is).
      - tssva 4y ago
        At the airport I regularly fly out of the id check is performed as part of the inspection area. There is a TSA id check station directly before each body/carry-on scanning station.
itronitron 4y ago
>> I think it’s morally wrong to privatize access to federal services. It's also worth noting that applies to health care as well, although the line cutting is likely to provoke more moral outrage.
dragonwriter 4y ago
> I think it’s morally wrong to privatize access to federal services. Airport security is only a federal service provided by the TSA for the purpose of subsidizing the airline industry (by removing a source of liability.) This was part of a series of post-9/11 actions taken to stabilize the air travel industry. That they have found the way to use the pain imposed to create federal partnerships to subsidize other private services is…unsurprising.

etrautmann 4y ago

Companies like Clear benefit from the situation being awful, and will thus be invested to maintain the status quo. Much like Intuit lobbying to keep tax preparation difficult to protect their interests providing tax preparation software.

subharmonicon 4y ago

You’re making a choice not to share your biometrics because you don’t trust the company to use and protect your biometric data. Fair enough. Shouldn’t I have the choice to trust them and get the improved service due to their being able to do the biometric check? I’m not sure what you mean by privatizing access to federal services. You still have access to that service. If you mean privatizing the administration of the service, well TSA screeners are staffed by private contractors. If you’re arguing that the federal government should even the playing field and provide the option to supply them with biometrics and get better service as a result (and get Clear out of the way), then I would certainly agree with that. But honestly I am not sure what you’re arguing for, other than denying people access to a service they are willing to make the privacy trade-off for because it bothers you they get through security faster than you do.

kjhkjhkhjkhjk 4y ago

What's morally wrong about validating identity through biometrics?

toomuchtodo 4y ago
Nothing, it’s the paid for line cutting that is the problem (with airports getting a cut for enabling it). TSA could do the same biometrics verification, and arguably does with their latest credential authentication tech, where your ID is what is used to proof your travel plans at the agent podium. It’s a short hop to TSA doing facial recognition instead of scanning your ID. With CLEAR, the biometrics are just the theater to enable the venue rev share and traveler benefit (cutting the line). https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/credential-authentication-technology https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/credential-aut...
- kjhkjhkhjkhjk 4y ago
  The point of the TSA line is to verify your identity. What is the point of waiting if you've already verified your identity?
  - falcolas 4y ago
    Not at all. They're the gatekeepers of the queue for access the inspection area behind the line, where the real bottleneck exists. The ID check is currently an excuse to put that gatekeeper out front; they could do it as part of the inspection area and not impact a single thing. It could even be easily automated (it effectively is).
    - tssva 4y ago
      At the airport I regularly fly out of the id check is performed as part of the inspection area. There is a TSA id check station directly before each body/carry-on scanning station.

itronitron 4y ago

>> I think it’s morally wrong to privatize access to federal services. It's also worth noting that applies to health care as well, although the line cutting is likely to provoke more moral outrage.

dragonwriter 4y ago

> I think it’s morally wrong to privatize access to federal services. Airport security is only a federal service provided by the TSA for the purpose of subsidizing the airline industry (by removing a source of liability.) This was part of a series of post-9/11 actions taken to stabilize the air travel industry. That they have found the way to use the pain imposed to create federal partnerships to subsidize other private services is…unsurprising.