The left—known for not letting a good crisis go to waste—are using the massive crisis at the US border to push for more dominance and control over people’s ID, data and privacy. The risk of “function creep,” where data collected for one purpose is repurposed for another without consent, highlights the growing tension between technological convenience and the erosion of privacy rights.
As the government expands its use of biometric data under the guise of security at the border, many worry about the potential for increased surveillance and the impact on civil liberties. With the rise of such programs, the debate over how to balance national security with individual privacy is more urgent than ever.
Here is what is unfolding that should be on everyone’s radar, this report is based on a CBP press release date Aug. 30, 2024:
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Global Entry program, which uses advanced biometric identification technology to expedite travel for pre-approved, low-risk international travelers, is raising significant privacy concerns among U.S. citizens. Critics argue that the collection and storage of sensitive biometric data—such as facial recognition images and fingerprints—poses a substantial risk to personal privacy.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a Global Entry enrollment event in Grand Forks, North Dakota, scheduled for September 7 and 28, 2024. This event is part of the CBP’s efforts to streamline and expedite the re-entry process for pre-approved low-risk international travelers. During the event, CBP officers will conduct in-person interviews with conditionally approved applicants at the Grand Forks International Airport, where the latest biometric identification technology is available for use.
Global Entry is a voluntary program that facilitates faster processing for travelers returning to the United States. By utilizing biometric identification through touchless portals, approved members can bypass traditional passport control lines, reducing their wait times significantly. Biometric identification is a form of technology that uses unique physical characteristics—such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans—to verify an individual’s identity.
In the context of the Global Entry program, biometric identification primarily involves facial recognition. As travelers approach the touchless portals, a camera captures their image and cross-references it with photos stored in CBP’s database, typically from passports or previous travel documents. This process ensures that the person standing in front of the portal is indeed who they claim to be, enhancing security while speeding up the entry process.
The integration of biometric technology into the Global Entry program reflects a broader trend in border security and immigration control. By automating and expediting the identity verification process, CBP can allocate resources more effectively and improve overall efficiency. This technology reduces the need for manual document checks, which are more time-consuming and prone to human error.
The Global Entry program now offers a mobile application, allowing eligible Trusted Traveler Members to submit their travel documents and photos through a secure smartphone app. This innovation further streamlines the entry process by eliminating the need for travelers to use a physical portal or kiosk, thus reducing congestion and enhancing the overall travel experience.
Applicants for Global Entry must apply online through the Trusted Traveler Programs Enrollment System, undergo a background check, and complete an interview with a CBP officer. Those approved gain access not only to expedited re-entry into the United States but also to TSA Pre✓™, which offers quicker security screening at domestic airports.
While biometric identification technologies, such as those used in the Global Entry program, offer significant benefits in terms of efficiency and security, they also come with several potential problems and challenges.
Privacy Concerns: Biometric identification involves collecting and storing sensitive personal data, such as fingerprints, facial images, or iris scans. There is a risk that this data could be misused or accessed without proper authorization. If biometric databases are compromised, the stolen data cannot be easily changed, unlike passwords or PINs. This could lead to long-term privacy issues for individuals whose biometric information has been exposed.
Data Security Risks: The storage and transmission of biometric data must be highly secure to prevent unauthorized access and breaches. Hackers targeting biometric databases can potentially gain access to sensitive information, posing significant security risks. Once biometric data is stolen, it can be challenging to mitigate the damage, as biometric characteristics cannot be altered like other forms of identification.
Accuracy and Reliability Issues: Although biometric systems are generally accurate, they are not infallible. Factors such as poor image quality, changes in appearance due to aging, injuries, or medical conditions can affect the reliability of biometric identification. Additionally, environmental factors like lighting and camera quality can impact the accuracy of facial recognition systems, leading to false positives (incorrectly identifying someone as another person) or false negatives (failing to recognize the correct individual).
Bias and Discrimination: Biometric systems can exhibit biases, especially in facial recognition technology. Studies have shown that these systems can be less accurate in identifying people of certain ethnicities, genders, or age groups. Such biases can lead to unequal treatment, false identifications, or failures to identify individuals accurately, which can perpetuate discrimination and injustice.
Ethical Concerns: The use of biometric identification raises ethical questions about surveillance and individual freedoms. The collection of biometric data for identification purposes can be seen as invasive and may lead to concerns over mass surveillance. People may feel uncomfortable or coerced into providing their biometric data, especially when participation in programs like Global Entry is linked to significant travel benefits.
Exclusion and Accessibility Issues: Not all individuals can provide biometric data easily. For example, people with disabilities or those with certain medical conditions might find it challenging to provide fingerprints or facial scans. This can lead to exclusion or unequal access to services that require biometric identification.
While biometric identification offers significant advantages in terms of speed and security, it also poses substantial challenges related to privacy, security, accuracy, bias, ethics, and accessibility. These concerns must be carefully managed to ensure that biometric systems are used responsibly and fairly. By holding enrollment events and promoting advanced technologies like biometric identification, CBP aims to make international travel safer and more efficient, aligning with its vision of enhancing national security through innovation.
And can we trust the Biden-Harris regime with this type of authority?
As always, it all depends on who controls these advancements against the freedoms of the United States citizens.
Americans are supposed to have safeguards to protect our rights and keep the government from pushing too far. There is a reason that people may view these technological advances by a government known to censor and litigate their political opponents with great skepticism.