The reason I always opt out of biometric gathering and facial recognition at borders, flights boarding, checkpoints, parks, concerts, and other venues is that I want to always be asked for my consent every time when my data is being taken from me.
We are rapidly headed toward a world where we will not even be given the option to opt out. In addition, our digital twins will soon be our identification.
Currently, in the U.S., you are actually implicitly opted in and your consent is assumed. Meaning, if you don’t do anything, and just go along with it, you are opted in. That is not consent. That is deliberate misdirection and deception.
Consent should never be assumed in any scenario, whether it’s physically interacting with someone you’ve just met, using pronouns, or having your biometric data taken from you.
”Touchless ID,” “face matching,” “ID match,” “friction free.” They make it seem easy and welcoming when they want your data, but it becomes cumbersome, hostile, and even adversarial when you don’t want to give them your data. Deceptive by design.
They pitch the experience as frictionless for us, but it is actually that the taking of our data is frictionless for them.
They are observing that 99.9% of people go along with it without any objection.
People are being intimidated, rushed, or are not being informed of their options. And because 99.9% of people are participating, I predict very soon we will not even have the option to opt out.
In fact, this is on the roadmap for U.S. borders and checkpoints within the year.
When in a situation, I always consider the risks and scenarios. If you are of any identity that cis, white, het, colonial culture does not want to exist, you are at higher risk. If you are at less risk, this is a great opportunity to be a co-conspirator.
I state, “I opt out of biometric gathering,” and have experienced agents lying and saying it isn’t possible, agents telling me they have no idea what I’m talking about, intimidation, and deliberate delay tactics.
I have a website set up with ongoing resources on opting out. It is available at keepbeyond.com/optout.
Always question biometric gathering. ALWAYS. When and if you can, opt out.
This is the time when we want to show them friction. If you are an identity with more privilege, opt out on behalf of those who cannot. Make it harder for entities to take your data.
Our digital selves will be our identities.
We should be asked for our consent every single time. Consent should not be assumed. We should not be opted in by default. We should not have to fight to opt out of our data being taken from us.
Opt out.
Opt out.
Opt out.
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