It’s Real ID Day, and You Can Still Opt Out of Facial Recognition
Keep them away from stealing your face.
Real ID day is here. Today, May 7th, is the first day that Real ID will be required to fly domestically or to enter a federal facility, if you choose your license or state ID card as your method of identification. Alternately, you can still use your passport instead.
As the universe would have it, of course I am traveling today.
I have spoken extensively about the surveillance, racism, anti-immigrantism, ableism, and classism of Real ID in the past, as it has been available for over a decade at this point.
Today I want to remind people that despite the Real ID requirement, you still have the right to opt out of facial recognition and biometric theft.
See my constantly updating website for exceptions and details.
I want to go over TSA’s Credential Authentication Technology CAT-2 machine that is being increasingly rolled out at more airports. It is important to note that every airport has slightly different tech, and in this piece I am specifically addressing airports in the U.S. Empire.
This is the CAT-2 machine. One version of several checkpoint machines at airports and other venues.
I am going into detail about this machine because I want people to know your enemy before you go. For airports, you encounter this specific machine upon reaching security checkpoints.
You will note that there are several options for ID verification, with the facial scanner right in the middle. The agent stands on the other side of this table in front of another screen, as shown by the person in the dark suit in the image.
Because of the way these kiosks are configured, you must be ready even before approaching the kiosks to not get your face captured. If you unintentionally face the screen camera, your face can be stolen before you even get the opportunity to state your right to opt out. In my opinion, this should be illegal.
They have created multiple hurdles to keep you from being able to opt out, on purpose.
This means you must be attentive to the machines already while you are queuing up ahead of even approaching a kiosk. I always wear my mask and approach from the side, look down, cover my face with my hand, or do whatever it takes to avoid facing the camera screen.
As you approach the kiosk, ensure you tell them before you scan your ID or hand them your ID, that you are opting out of the photo (“ID” here can mean Real ID or passport).
As seen in the CAT-2 version of the kiosk photo above, for identity verification there are many methods:
a glass plate on the left to scan your passport
a contactless surface for your device
a place to scan a QR code
a slot to insert your Real ID
the tablet with camera
and the agent.
It is absolutely ridiculous that there are no less than 6 ways to verify your information. Oppressors will always make things more complicated when possible.
Once again, approach while avoiding being in front of the camera screen and tell the agent you will be opting out.
When I started opting out almost a decade ago, TSA did not know what the hell was going on. But now because they have gone through training and because more people are finally opting out, they have figured out how to proceed. Some agents will still give you a hard time, pretend that they do not know what you are talking about, lie, tell you that you are not allowed to opt out, intimidate you, or tell you that it will take much longer. But if and when you can, insist upon opting out, it is your right.
Only after you have stated you will be opting out, should you give them your ID. They sometimes take your ID and scan it themselves, or they tell you to scan it yourself.
If you are asked to scan it yourself, you need to do so while dodging the camera in the middle. Truly, they have built it for maximum surveillance.
If you are of any identity that white cis het anti-immigrant ableist capitalist culture does not want to exist, then be mindful of the higher risks that are being put on you. And if you are of any identity where lower risk is put on you, this is a great opportunity to be a co-conspirator.
Check out this website (keepbeyond.com/optout) that I set up and update on all things opt out, consent, AI, IP, facial recognition, and biometrics. The website also has a downloadable and printable pocket card that you can take with you to the airport with the policy from CBP/TSA on opting out, some ways to state you are opting out, and what to expect.
And as always, if and when you can opt out, opt out, opt out.