this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2025
118 points (98.4% liked)

Technology

73534 readers
3776 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
L3s@lemmy.world
enu@lemmy.world
technopagan@lemmy.world
L4s@lemmy.world
L3s@hackingne.ws
L4s@hackingne.ws
118
Airlines urge senators to reject bill limiting facial recognition (thehill.com)
submitted 2 days ago by AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works to c/technology@lemmy.world
11 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

A group representing several major airlines alongside travel companies and airports is opposing a Senate bill that would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to generally use manual ID verification at security checkpoints instead of facial recognition.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), would broadly restrict TSA’s ability to use biometrics and facial recognition, carving out a few exemptions for the agency’s PreCheck and other Trusted Traveler programs. Passengers may still opt in to the use of facial recognition at the checkpoint.

In a letter Monday to Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the air industry groups said the law was a “step backward” and that facial recognition technology made security screenings far more efficient.

top 11 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] nucleative@lemmy.world 28 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I was traveling internationally recently and returning to the USA I didn't even need my passport to clear through immigration. They had a camera which recognized me and gave me the green light to pass as I approached.

The agent had a few questions and I was on my way.

It was convenient as hell, but the fact that their system can link me to whatever data is stored with my passport records based on a second or two of recognition out of all the faces that must be in there...

actually kinda blows.

It means they can definitely put a street camera system in place and see oh, there's /u/nucleative. Wonder why he's at the protest, bank, with that person, driving that car, near a crime scene, or anything else.

Somehow we have zero privacy yet the enforcement hides behind numbers and masks.

I expect that this will just continue to go further and further.

Kids, this is why we needed to push back hard on privacy, random cameras, and facial recognition 20 years ago.

The metaphorical horse is already out of the barn and removing or disabling these systems will probably never happen now.

[–] Hugin@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Part of the reason it's so fast is they have the passenger manifest already. So they start the search checking against the hundreds of people that just arrived. Instead off the much larger overall database.

[–] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 days ago

This would be infuriating no matter what, but the hypocrisy of ICE wearing masks and all the bullshit about accountability for everybody "except me and my frenz bcuz we're too busy making America so great to worry about the rules" makes this all so much more fucking ridiculous

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

The metaphorical horse is already out of the barn and removing or disabling these systems will probably never happen now.

Unless lots of people begin dismantling them. but that may turn out to be not too healthy.

[–] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 44 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

the air industry groups said the law was a “step backward” and that facial recognition technology made security screenings far more efficient.

There's that word again. Is there anything that can't be justified by efficiency?

It never is, never has been, and probably never will be very efficient to slow down and consider the brand new set of issues created by efficiency. You're just standing in the way of progress, and that's tomorrow's problem anyway. Let them figure it out. I'm sure they'll come up with an efficient solution.

EPIC et al. Call on Congress to Codify Protections for Travelers From TSA Facial Recognition July 30, 2025

[–] halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 27 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You know what else is efficient? Actual security instead of the theater they put travelers through currently.

[–] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I'm sure once every human is replaced by shitty automated AI the entire process will become smoother than our darkest nightmares can imagine.

Book your flight. Hop into your driverless taxi, and if you survive the trip to the airport, use the facial recognition option to breeze right on through security within minutes (assuming you're the right color of passenger) without even taking off your shoes.

No need for air traffic control, flight attendants, or even pilots. You can can walk straight on to the overcrowded plane, settle in, put on your headphones and sleep mask, then nosedive straight into the ocean without ever having to acknowledge another human being. Until the rude asshole sitting next to you suddenly bothers you with some stupid shit like "Oh God why aren't the oxygen masks dropping? That used to be automatic! Our father who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name..."

You roll your eyes and put your headphones and mask back on to enjoy the soothing sounds of autotune AI generated parody songs you made on the ride to the airport. What the fuck is that guy even talking about anyway? You don't know and you don't care. You didn't pay for first class to have some rando kill your vacay vibe. You take a deep breath (but there's no oxygen) smile and settle back in, knowing that soon you will reach your final destination.

[–] baggachipz@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago

Haha, nice. Reminds me of the libertarian detective copypasta.

[–] baggachipz@sh.itjust.works 15 points 2 days ago

Siren beeps

TSA agent: “step out of line and over there, sir. You have an outstanding parking ticket in Fresno. We can’t let you through until you use our approved automated payment processor and agree to our new Terms and Conditions.”

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I can barely believe senators of the usa are even thinking of such a bill.

[–] crystalmerchant@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Merkley's the man