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British Airways Plans To Google Passengers
itwbennett writes "British Airways wants to be the airline where everybody knows your name. The idea behind the 'Know Me' program is that by using Google Images to ID passengers, they'll be able to recreate the 'feeling of recognition you get in a favourite restaurant,' Jo Boswell, head of customer analysis at BA told the London Evening Standard. But the more privacy minded among us know that the airline could end up seeing a lot more than your face."
Or what if it's the wrong person with your name? I know my name doesn't show up for me at all (I'm not registered by my real name on social networks etc.).
Of course we all have unique names and faces and Google images contains only correctly tagged photos so this won't cause any confusion at all.
If I'm recognised in a favourite restaurant it's because we know each other well enough for that. If a stewardess I've never met before "recognises" me I know it's fake. The feeling I will probably get is of someone playing manipulative games with me.
I want British Airways to fly me from LHR to wherever in the shortest time at the lowest cost. I don't want them to LIKE me on Facebook as part of the process of doing that.
If they need a nice little pocket sized document with my photo, my date of birth and a unique reference number they can use the nice booklet that cost me £90 from HM Passport Agency.
Sigs. We don't need no steenking sigs.
From the article, it says at the bottom: ""The Google Images search app helps our customer service team to recognise high profile travellers such as captains of industry who would be using our First class facilities enabling us to give a more personalised service."
I think this is almost certainly something they're aiming at first class passengers only (probably as they approach the lounges at airports). I doubt they care that much about everyone in cattle class...
to recreate the 'feeling of recognition you get in a favourite restaurant'
So, now the airline is going to spit in my food too?
If I google myself, I find either a very large black NFL player, or an Airforce general. YAY, instant upgrade.
Trying to become famous by taking photos. Visit my homepage please.
the airline could end up seeing a lot more than your face
Sounds like they also want to integrate the results from full body scanners.
CC.
TaijiQuan (Huang, 5 loosenings)
There are several ways to do this that don't involve invading your privacy any more than they already have by making you present papers to fly. They already have all the information you could want in their database about your trips with them. Attaching a photo to it does nothing more than give someone a feeling of unease the moment you've pulled off this sham.
I dislike it when the coffee shop employees use my name without having been introduced because it's unexpected. The first thing that goes through your head is how did this person know my name, then you work backwards and figure it out. "Oh, they read it off my credit card." The uneasiness goes away but the feeling that something wasn't quite right with your experience is still there. Now try it in a situation where you can't figure it out because there’s a third party involved?
Situation: Man you've never seen before approaches you in an airport and says "Mr. Smith?" What is your immediate reaction?
First you're trying to figure out where you've met the person before, then you're trying to figure out if something is wrong or if they're a thief or confidence man playing you because obviously they've overheard your name from somewhere? You're never able to make the connection that they've "recognized" you because they haven't. They weren't even introduced by a mutual acquaintance like the front desk clerk because in a giant airport it would be impossible to believe that the front desk clerk described you well enough to be tracked down.
You will always be left with a feeling that shenanigans have happened and it won't make you happy. Unless you're an extremely trusting grandmotherly type person who finds the novelty to be so interesting you forget your suspicions; If you are in that particular demographic then the novelty of hearing your name called over the intercom so you can come to the desk and be updated would be just as effective as the above.
Finally, I'm in a position of choice in what has become an increasingly hostile market due to security theater. Every chance I get I will choose the airline that isn't creepy internet stalking me.
Or what if it's the wrong person with your name?
That's not always a bad thing - may be I'll get some free upgrades out of it! ;-)
"OK, Mr Goatse, if you could just step over here".
You are welcome on my lawn.
A buddy of mine invited me and another friend to come stay at a Wyndham resort in WI for a ski weekend a few years ago. We stayed at a resort with multiple restaurants and shops on site.
Very long and creepy story short, in an attempt to sell more points to my friend (who was on his parent's million+ account) they Googled for us and knew everything about me including my preferences for music, good food, etc and tried to use that as leverage.
Outcomes:
1. It was uncomfortable because they only had a cursory knowledge of what I liked and they weren't really applying it well enough.
2. It was fucking SUPER creepy that they knew anything at all about me. Honestly, it was unnerving.
3. I don't want strangers treating me like I am eating at my favorite restaurant where I know the owner. You know why? Because they forgot the steps involved to get to that point--the one where you get to know someone from more than a cursory glance at Google.
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Do not fucking do this. Thanks.