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.
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
You know what else is efficient? Actual security instead of the theater they put travelers through currently.
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.
Haha, nice. Reminds me of the libertarian detective copypasta.