Making things legible to the state is one of the ever going projects of any state. So while I think it’s important to make sure that refusal to participate in one of these projects doesn’t preclude you from still receiving the services of the state, it’s also isn’t surprising that the state wants to make its constituents more legible to itself. The balance falls in figuring out how to firewall these different functions to prevent certain kinds of identity from making it so you can’t receive the services that are the whole reason why you have a state.
> it’s also isn’t surprising that the state wants to make its constituents more legible to itself
And not just the state, and it's enlisting the help of private companies.
From the article:
> The privacy risks, including the possibility for constant surveillance and data harvesting, will fade into the background when you are about to miss your flight if you can’t skip to the front of the line
Personally, when going to Mexico, I was asked to submit to a photo verification to board the plane. I asked to opt out. I was told it was impossible.
Later, after verification, I realized I was lied to and manipulated: data was obtained under false pretense, under threat of being unable to board, and to top it out, with a lie!
Next time in the airport, I will only unmask to TSA agents, and only those who require I do, never to the gate because as said in the article all it takes is one leak and then it's impossible to undo:
> But as Nick Corbishley, author of a recent book on digital IDs, points out, decisions made in the moment may carry long-term negative consequences: “If biometric data is hacked, there is no way of undoing the damage. You cannot change or cancel your iris, fingerprint, or DNA like you can change a password or cancel your credit card.” Unless we collectively decline to participate in this new social experiment, digital IDs—tied to private demographic, financial, location, movement, and biometric data—will become mechanisms for bulk data harvesting and tracking of populations around the globe. Welcome to the new abnormal.
yeah the nasty thing is the private company loophole works. like the TSA puts in these stupid ass measures everybody hates then is like "oh well you can get clear if you don't like it!"
it's supposed to be illegal for the feds to use private companies to do what they can't but for some reason this hasn't gotten killed in court. literally the agency shouldn't exist nor should airport security like it does now.
Is there any hope for those of us that used Facebook when it came out then deleted it? Seems like they already have all our data now. My DNA is everywhere and my fingerprints are technically everywhere too. Wouldn’t be hard to get it.
It always works this way, “Oh it’s completely voluntary.”…a few years later “we’ll you can’t keep your job if you don’t.”…a few years later “we’ll throw you in jail if you don’t.”.
It’s important to send the message now that these programs/services are not wanted and should be shut down immediately.
Blanket refusal to get an ID card or passport will get you into trouble in some countries as a citizen (e.g., Germany). Possible fines etc. aside, establishing your ID in a lot of situations will get quite difficult.
Germany requires you to have an ID document from the age of 16. You do not need to carry it however (there are a few exceptions, e.g. if you work in construction or the like where tax evasion/cash in hand is not uncommon).
Inside the EU's Schengen area, the ID is only needed at borders.
Again, once inside another Schengen country, you do not need to carry it around.
I'm not sure if the same rules apply for foreigners though, once they are inside the EU.
From trial and error over the last five years I'd say three out of five airlines will let you board flights using your driver's license as ID. They always complain but they let you through anyway.
ID checks at Schengen to Schengen borders are absent anyway since many years so this isn't a big surprise.
That said: I'm a white man.
These rules apply to everyone by law.
Sadly, the less 'Caucasian' your phenotype is, the more likely your experience with EU security forces will be for them to expect you to carry ID -- despite the above rules.
And boarding a flight with your driver's license if you are not white -- forget it.
Racism is everywhere though. It is just especially painful to see in this context.
The greater point, I think, is that everywhere else in American where I deal with the government I am required to present some form of ID. They even give you a list of a dozen or more valid IDs you can use.
However, arguably the most important interface with the government, voting is a place where I don't even have to validate I am who I say I am.
They don't really care who you are, they only care if you are allowed to vote. At least in theory, of course weird stuff probably goes on every year due to the size of the US.
