Privacy

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How to get TSA PreCheck while protecting privacy? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by mulcahey@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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I'm in a bit of a bind. I have to get TSA PreCheck, but I really don't want to give up my biometric data to the government. I've read that TSA PreCheck requires my fingerprints and possibly my photo (it's unclear). Interesting, though, is that when you're enrolled in PreCheck you do not get fingerprinted when passing through the airport.

So, I plan to fill in my fingerprints with superglue when I sign up for PreCheck. Weak fingerprints are a condition that affect a lot of people -- construction and farm workers, chemo patients, or some people just have it genetically -- so I don't think it will be too weird if my fingerprints don't show up well in the scan. From what I've read (FlyerTalk, Washington Post) you can still get PreCheck even if you have weak fingerprints. And, since they don't check my fingerprints at the airport, I'm not worried about ever having to match this scan.

My face is effectively a lost cause at this point, so I'm not gonna sweat that one.

My questions.

Is there any reason my fingerprint plan won't work?
The PreCheck sign-up process is run by private companies (Idemia, Telos, Clear) and I can choose which one to use. I am going to rule out Clear. Is there any advantage between using Idemia or Telos?
Is there anything else I should know before signing up?

EDIT: Wow, these replies are so useless, I had to check to make sure I wasn't on reddit!

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[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 26 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The point of precheck is to identify you. If you don't want that, don't sign up.

[–] mulcahey@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Sadly I must sign up. I have managed to avoid it for many years, but it's a requirement for my work.

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Politely decline. If it's a firm requirement, look for a new job.

[–] irotsoma@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 months ago

Not sure why it's required for your job since it is a convenience thing rather than a requirement to fly anywhere in particular. It's a very specific kind of background check and the agency doesn't share information with employers in general. So that makes little sense to me. Perhaps you can ask them why and suggest a more appropriate background check system if that's what they use it for.

But either way, a background check is required for PreCheck and background check means giving up private information to allow the TSA to get all of your data that the government has on you. Privacy would defeat the entire purpose.