I recently traveled outside the country and was told to place my finger on a scanner during the airport or border process. It appeared to be a fingerprint biometric collection. I don’t remember seeing any clear notice before booking, before check-in, or before travel that fingerprint data would be required.
I’m trying to understand what the actual rule is.
Is there any legal way to refuse it and request manual processing? Or is fingerprint collection a condition of being allowed into the country?
For anyone who knows the process, what should a traveler say before touching the scanner if they want to refuse anything optional?
Has anyone successfully opted out of fingerprint or facial biometric collection while traveling internationally? If so, which agency was involved and what happened?
Is there a way to avoid this with private travel, is this just a money thing where if you spend money for a private jet you can go into and out of the country freely?
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Specify the airport and jurisdiction.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but the only thing private about a private aircraft is you choose the crew, aircraft, itinerary etc but pay for everything. They offer comfort and convenience, and offer privacy (separation) from commercial airline passengers but not privacy (freedom from coercion/control) from states. “Business jet,” or more broadly “non-commercial aircraft,” may be a more accurate term. All passengers and crew need to go through immigration, customs etc. Unless an exception applies or an opt out is possible, this includes having their biometrics extracted.
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Pretty sure in the USA you don’t have to go through TSA if flying private. You’d still have to go through customs if traveling internationally.
In the USA, TSA allows opt-out for facial recognition for identity verification.
TSA=somewhat chill, want to verify identify, prevent illegal things on planes. Usually smoothish process.
CBP=Facial recognition for non citizens, investigating social media history, unlocking phones, asking questions.
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