Why You Can (And Should) Opt Out Of TSA Facial Recognition Right Now

I'm legitimately surprised at the amount of actual morons in this thread popping out with the ol "They already have it why not just make it as easy as possible for them to continually keep an updated database of your current facial appearance?".
Same vein as "I have nothing to hide so privacy invasions are fine!". Fuck off with this cattle-ass mindset.

Fascinating how many "people" here are saying it's ok, "you're already on camera", "your picture is on your ID "...
And? I'll still say no.

Last time I tried to opt out of the face scan the TSA agent literally laughed in my face, the rule of law is a joke in this country.
- Insist.

Every time I opt out I am mysteriously pulled aside for a "randomized check."
- I opt out whenever I travel and I get random checks about 4/5 times now. I definitely don't flag on this scale either.
- That's odd. I opted out and was met with no fuss whatsoever. Might have just been lucky.
  
  That is lucky. It is every time for me, and I am pasty white.

My question is does opt out keep them from imaging your id in any way? Because my id already has my photo.
- Probably not. But you have the right to opt out, so you should. Don't make it any more convenient for them to violate your rights than you have to, and if someone proves they're retaining data illegally, you could join a class action lawsuit.
  If you comply, you might save a few minutes. Is that really worth it?
  
  Didn’t take any extra time for me to opt out in SFO. It was a quick and he just took an extra 2 seconds to stare at my ID and face.
  
  I mean the convenience is worth it when the commodity is valueless. They got that when I applied for passport at the federal level and drivers license at the state level. Some folks give facebook a whole bunch and out all their relatives.

We were told it was not optional coming home from an international flight last month. However, our toddler was with us and nervous and they said we could opt out for him. I said great, thanks. Picked him up while we were talking and I wasn't really thinking about where I was holding him. The agent looked over, smiled and said hi to get their attention, and I saw him take the image, seconds after we verbally opted out. Sigh.

I'm a bit confused at the technology here...or the logic.
They say they don't store your photo. So how does taking a photo prove anything if there's no data to compare it to?
- they are comparing it to the id.

Does this also apply to the face scans they ask U.S. citizens to do when passing the Canadian border?
- If it's into Canada, I don't think you have that option. If it's into the US, then yeah, they have to let you enter, so I assume refusing face scans is allowed. They can certainly detain you, but you have rights. IANAL though, and YMMV depending on the color of your skin and/or accent, unfortunately.

My dumb ass thought I could do this at immigration. Partner loved me asking
- If you're a US citizen, you probably can.
  
  Nope, you cannot

This never stops them breaking the law, more fake privacy. Start with what you can control, like your apps.

Better start wearing burka going forward if u think TSA face recognition is taking your privacy away. There are 100s of camera in airport that already know who u are and what you are boarding. And this was implemented like 20 years ago right after 911

This is basically fear mongering. You're worried about what they might do rather than what they are doing, which is not keeping the pics taken at kiosks. This is even mentioned in the article.
I'd certainly be worried about any plans they have, but skipping the pics now isn't doing anything for either party unless you don't believe what they say. Which is fair enough, but you'd need to provide a reason to doubt it.
- The current admin is utilizing IRS data for deportation efforts and the USPS for data collection in furtherance of those same efforts. Why would collection of facial recognition data from the TSA be any different?
- The TSA site specifically says that the photos are not stored. AI training data generated from the "live" photo(s) they take would be just as useful to them for the things people should be worried about and there's no mention of them not storing that data.
  
  Is that even something they do though? Or just another "but they could" argument?
- You don't need to provide a reason, you just have to say you choose to opt out.
  Frankly with how easily this administration attempts to skirt the law, and defy judges that tell them to knock it off, I would not trust that the TSA is always deleting the photos that they're supposed to.
- what they might do rather than what they are doing, which is not keeping the pics taken at kiosks
  Do you have proof of that? I personally don't trust what law enforcement says. They have already proven themselves incompetent and to have no respect for the law, what more reason do I need to not trust them?
  Even if I do believe them, making things inconvenient for the police is just a small way for me to get back at them for making my life inconvenient. If enough people push back and slow TSA to a crawl, they'll reconsider the policy.

You can opt out, here's why!
...
The government might use your picture for something nefarious in the future we can't even think of an example of besides real-time tracking. ooooOOOOOoooOooo.
You are on candid camera every time you're in the airport guys. You're probably carrying a tracking device in your pocket already. This article doesn't say anything about anything, it's slop.
- I love how "it's already bad may as well go full stupid" is your security and privacy policy.
  Open with this if you interview with us, okay? I'll tell my boss to look out for it and save us some time.
  
  Open with this if you interview with us, okay? I'll tell my boss to look out for it and save us some time.
  This is some "That happened" material right here.
  
  Why SHOULD you decline to have a photo taken to compare to your ID with your photo on it? This article doesn't say that, but that's what the headline reads.
  This is not "it's already bad, might as well go full stupid" so much as "did you know bread has dirt in it? you should avoid it." - people who don't wash their hands after they shit.
  By all means decline the picture, but most people have way, WAY bigger security and privacy problems than having a live picture taken when they fly once a year.

Oh no the government might get access to my picture, which they already have access to!
- Why would you defend this?
  We trust an enormous amount of data to the federal government, and until recently, that privacy risk was mitigated by the fact that the branches did not automatically share data with each other.
  Now, they are trying to vacuum it all up, and increase the power of the government.
  Why should the federal government have my driver's license photo anyway? That's through the state. And even if they did, why should I give them easy access to an updated photo of me, cross referenced with my name and identity?
  If the answer is it speeds up the TSA's job and makes them more accurate, I don't think that's a compelling enough reason for me personally to give up that little bit of privacy.
  
  If this is for surveillance, it’s an absolute nothingburger. Your face is public data, not something protected by privacy. Period. Your boarding pass is already tracking your location at a specific time, so the photo doesn’t do anything about tracking either. The only practical use for this is quick identity verification.
  I will be very happy to change my mind if someone can give me a specific privacy violation, but no one has said anything except vague murmurs about “tracking”.
  Now if they require you to unlock your phone? Yeah. That’s a BIG fucking privacy violation.