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I wasn't "appalled" but definitely felt uneasy about it. I am aware I could opt out and read all the discussions about it here on HN. I didn't do anything about

by rty32 2y ago

I wasn't "appalled" but definitely felt uneasy about it. I am aware I could opt out and read all the discussions about it here on HN. I didn't do anything about it, despite being a very privacy conscious person (using firefox, use max adblocking/anti tracking etc). Why? I don't want to be an asshole, hold the queue and cause trouble for a TSA agent who is just doing the job and likely have no idea what "opt out" means, and with, let's admit it, no practical benefit for myself. (If anything, help myself miss a flight.) The feds and local law enforcement probably already have my face data anyway.

username135 2y ago
Was gonna meave the same comment almost verbatim.
giantg2 2y ago
If you have a passport, they already do. If you have a driver's license or state ID, they most likely do.
- hammock 2y ago
  The TSA scanners use a hi res stereoscopic camera to take a 3D photo of your facial features. It's not the same as your passport photo
  - refurb 2y ago
    Different tech for sure. But I have global entry which is all done through facial recognition now (and matching to passenger manifests). No passport needed. The camera they used was just a normal DSLR, but it had no problem matching me. The tech is getting really good. In Singapore you can enter through automated gates without ever interacting with a person or showing a passport. All through facial recognition if they have a photo on file (citizens and permanent residents). I assume the tech will get good enough to scan entire crowds very quickly and identify everyone.
  - giantg2 2y ago
    Pretty sure many DMVs are using that tech now. Wouldn't surprise me if it's Real ID related and integrated with TSA.
frickinLasers 2y ago
I had a perfectly pleasant experience opting out. The agent simply smiled at me, asked a question to verify that I was the person on the ID I had handed him, and off I went. It was much easier and less gropey than opting out of the mm wave scans.
- monksy 2y ago
  I've had the same experience with the opt out in the pre-check line.
- bentley 2y ago
  I too find the domestic TSA photo opt‐out to be quite painless. I recommend simply saying “I’d like to opt out of the photo” as soon as you walk to the platform, because saying so as soon as possible minimizes the chance of holding up the line and irritating the agent. The only observable difference in processing is that the agent takes my ID, holds it up, and compares it to my face. CBP is another matter. When returning from abroad I find their agents to be more aggressive or snarky when I (politely) opt out, although I wouldn’t say it’s gone as far as retaliation. I often get asked why I’m opting out, and sometimes they follow that with additional questions. Several times I’ve received a standard spiel explaining that the photo is not stored permanently or transmitted; the vibe I get is that they’re trained to respond this way to “kooks.”
  - JoshTriplett 2y ago
    9 times out of 10 I've found opting out of the body scanners to be painless. 1 time out of 10 I get a bully who wants to make a scene in order to create social pressure to justify opting out. I always have to suppress the counterproductive and escalatory urge to say something along the lines of "this pointless conversation will be shorter if we skip ahead to where I reiterate that I'm still opting out".
  - KAMSPioneer 2y ago
    Can confirm that CBP is worse about this. I once had an agent insist that it was not possible to opt out, because the scan was mandatory. I pointed out that I had walked past no less than four signs proclaiming the opposite (if you are a US citizen) on my way through the line. _He_ then held up the line as he walked off, consulted with someone who obviously knew better, came back and pouted while he verified my identity "manually."
hammock 2y ago
You are not an asshole for opting out. If I see someone opting out at an airport they will get a silent nod of approbation. It is extremely easy and does not hold anyone else up. If anything it holds you up more - this is the case with naked scanner opt-outs, where you step aside and the people behind you can thank you for there being one less person in front of them on the way to get their junk photographed. Furthermore, the TSA scanners use a hi res stereoscopic camera to take a 3D photo of your facial features. It's not the same as your passport photo or a regular CCTV camera
rockskon 2y ago
I've opted out every time I've flown. It's very quick.

by rty32 2y ago

username135 2y ago

Was gonna meave the same comment almost verbatim.

giantg2 2y ago

If you have a passport, they already do. If you have a driver's license or state ID, they most likely do.

hammock 2y ago
The TSA scanners use a hi res stereoscopic camera to take a 3D photo of your facial features. It's not the same as your passport photo
- refurb 2y ago
  Different tech for sure. But I have global entry which is all done through facial recognition now (and matching to passenger manifests). No passport needed. The camera they used was just a normal DSLR, but it had no problem matching me. The tech is getting really good. In Singapore you can enter through automated gates without ever interacting with a person or showing a passport. All through facial recognition if they have a photo on file (citizens and permanent residents). I assume the tech will get good enough to scan entire crowds very quickly and identify everyone.
- giantg2 2y ago
  Pretty sure many DMVs are using that tech now. Wouldn't surprise me if it's Real ID related and integrated with TSA.

frickinLasers 2y ago

I had a perfectly pleasant experience opting out. The agent simply smiled at me, asked a question to verify that I was the person on the ID I had handed him, and off I went. It was much easier and less gropey than opting out of the mm wave scans.

monksy 2y ago
I've had the same experience with the opt out in the pre-check line.
bentley 2y ago
I too find the domestic TSA photo opt‐out to be quite painless. I recommend simply saying “I’d like to opt out of the photo” as soon as you walk to the platform, because saying so as soon as possible minimizes the chance of holding up the line and irritating the agent. The only observable difference in processing is that the agent takes my ID, holds it up, and compares it to my face. CBP is another matter. When returning from abroad I find their agents to be more aggressive or snarky when I (politely) opt out, although I wouldn’t say it’s gone as far as retaliation. I often get asked why I’m opting out, and sometimes they follow that with additional questions. Several times I’ve received a standard spiel explaining that the photo is not stored permanently or transmitted; the vibe I get is that they’re trained to respond this way to “kooks.”
- JoshTriplett 2y ago
  9 times out of 10 I've found opting out of the body scanners to be painless. 1 time out of 10 I get a bully who wants to make a scene in order to create social pressure to justify opting out. I always have to suppress the counterproductive and escalatory urge to say something along the lines of "this pointless conversation will be shorter if we skip ahead to where I reiterate that I'm still opting out".
- KAMSPioneer 2y ago
  Can confirm that CBP is worse about this. I once had an agent insist that it was not possible to opt out, because the scan was mandatory. I pointed out that I had walked past no less than four signs proclaiming the opposite (if you are a US citizen) on my way through the line. _He_ then held up the line as he walked off, consulted with someone who obviously knew better, came back and pouted while he verified my identity "manually."

hammock 2y ago

You are not an asshole for opting out. If I see someone opting out at an airport they will get a silent nod of approbation. It is extremely easy and does not hold anyone else up. If anything it holds you up more - this is the case with naked scanner opt-outs, where you step aside and the people behind you can thank you for there being one less person in front of them on the way to get their junk photographed. Furthermore, the TSA scanners use a hi res stereoscopic camera to take a 3D photo of your facial features. It's not the same as your passport photo or a regular CCTV camera

rockskon 2y ago

I've opted out every time I've flown. It's very quick.