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Delta's Fully Biometric Terminal Is the First In the US (engadget.com)

In what Delta is calling the first "biometric terminal" in the country, they will reportedly use facial recognition at check-in, security and boarding inside the international terminal at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport. Engadget reports: Passengers that want to use facial recognition can approach a kiosk in the lobby and click "Look," or approach a camera at the ticket counter, TSA checkpoint or when boarding. Once a green check mark flashes on the screen, they can proceed. Delta -- which plans to introduce fingerprint scanning to fold, too -- says passengers can use this system instead of the passports to get through these checkpoints, but you'll still need your passport for use in other non-biometric-equipped airports (although maybe one day we'll do away with passports altogether). Privacy advocates are concerned about the security risks present in facial scans, especially as it's an opt-out process. Others, however, say it makes air travel a more streamlined process.

5 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. Biometrics are dumb by DalM · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Biometrics are dumb for security. Ultimately, they are even worse than passwords. When someone steals a few million irises from their database, the company can't send out a bulk email telling everyone to change their eyes.

  2. Caution by markdavis · · Score: 5, Interesting

    >"Delta -- which plans to introduce fingerprint scanning to fold, too"

    Not a fan of this at all, but would flatly refuse if the biometrics used tried to include fingerprints or DNA. Those are two HUGE no-no's- they are left all over the place and can be collected without your permission or knowledge. One is easy to fake and the other can reveal all kinds of information about you*. Iris is also not safe- it is observable from a distance and also fakeable.

    * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
    If you must choose a biometric, make it either retina scan or deep vein palm scan. And even then, should only be used when absolutely essential.

  3. Great by DaMattster · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Given corporations' notorious attitude towards security as an afterthought, what happens when the inevitable intrusion occurs and a treasure trove of biometric data gets into the hands of some very bad actors. I think we are really in peak technology at this point and most new solutions aren't solving problems but are solutions looking for problems. I am going to stick to the old fashioned way of simply producing an ID and boarding pass. I can see the advantage of the mobile boarding pass and I do use that but we have recently hit the point where technology ceases to solve problems and may actually be creating more problems.

  4. Re:Oooh! I just can't wait! by jellomizer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No, we traded our privacy for "Security" then traded "Security" for laziness.

    The key phrase in our national anthem "Land of the free and the home of the brave" For freedom we need to be brave. We are scared, we became less brave, so we gave up our freedom.

    Freedom isn't safe. People will die and be unjustly hurt in a free society. But if we value freedom we need to be brave enough to stand up and say. We know the risks, we choose to face them for our freedom.

    This isn't a problem with any one side of the political system, The Safety argument is used all too often.

     

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    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  5. Nice Touring Car by sycodon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Looking at a nice Touring car now. Flying is over rated especially shorter distances.

    You can drive from Austin to Dallas faster than you can fly when you time it from your front door to the hotel door.

    Hell...just the recommend two hour early arrival at the airport gets you half way and more to Dallas.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.