Last year, I had a problem with TSA at Bradley Airport (BDL), in Connecticut. I filed a complaint and reached out multiple times, and have since confirmed that the employees involved broke TSA policy and possibly laws. However, TSA leadership seems to be burying the issue. They haven’t even given me a boilerplate “we take your privacy seriously and we’re handling it” sort of thing. Therefore, I will write about it here.
First, some background: TSA policy allows passengers to opt out of facial recognition.
There was no TSA line when we arrived, so I walked directly up to the kiosk manned by Mr. Hoague (employee #95999). He asked me to put my ID card in his scanner device. I already had my passport card in hand, so I promptly followed this instruction. He then asked me to allow my photo to be taken by the facial recognition system, and I declined. He informed me that I was not allowed to opt out, because I had already scanned my ID card. He further explained that this policy regarding the order of events was printed on various small placards when entering the TSA checkpoint. I travel somewhat routinely, often out of BDL, and I have never encountered this nuanced interpretation of my right to opt out of facial recognition. I asked to speak to Mr. Hougue’s supervisor, Dominick Amari (employee #33612). Mr. Amari reiterated the policy stated by Mr. Hougue, and they eventually forced me to submit to the facial recognition system.
I have since had the opportunity to read the signs in more detail. They definitely do not say what these men were claiming. Employees of the TSA have an obligation to ensure that travelers are able to make informed decisions regarding their personal information. Many travelers have well-founded concerns about potential misuse of facial recognition data and the impossibility of changing one’s face after being compromised. Even the Connecticut State Police Officer working at the checkpoint told me that the alleged policy offended him as well. I should always be the arbiter of how my information is collected and used. It is particularly upsetting because ultimately employees turned out to be incorrect.
Additionally, it appeared that Mr. Amari took photos with his phone of the computer screen that presumably contained my personal information. If it was a personal phone, then that would be a major infringement of my privacy expectations and probably TSA policies (and possibly state and federal law). Either way, this raises concerns about how my data is to be stored and protected once it is outside of the normal confines of the normal ID verification system. Mr. Amari had no valid need to collect and store anything more than is required for the ID screening process. I do not consent to any use of my ID, photos, or personal information for any purposes aside from verifying my identity and I requested that any such data be deleted immediately and disciplinary actions be taken.
I have received no resolution from TSA. They told me at one point that the matter was referred to the staff at the airport. Obviously I do not trust them, and with them not responding it seems my distrust is well-founded.
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