Wall Street company Clear offers a fast way around the long TSA lines at a number of large USA airports. Here's an article about it, https://www.fastcompany.com/90245393/clear-new-york-startup-speed-through-lines-at-airport-or-stadium
What's the pitch? You can sign up right at the airport in five minutes for $179 a year. If you are about to miss your flight because the TSA lines are an hour long, this might look like a trip saver. Of course there is a catch, they use biometric data: fingerprints, irises, faces... and a promise that your data is safe with them.
Clear's only domestic competition at airports is the Transportation Security Administration's service TSA PreCheck, which has more members (7 million), and is much cheaper ($85 for five years) and more widely available (200-plus airports). Another program, Global Entry, is run by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service to expedite passage of international travelers entering the United States. PreCheck and Global Entry both collect fingerprints from participating travelers but unlike Clear do not capture iris or facial scans. All three of the services—PreCheck, Global Entry, and Clear—worked with the Department of Homeland Security to develop tools that could predict the threat level of individual travelers, the "known traveler" model.
Clear is currently experimenting with an adaptation of this model that could be deployed at a vast number of non-airport venues. "In travel, prescreening programs like PreCheck and Global Entry create known travelers," Clear said in a statement to Fast Company. "As a qualified anti-terrorism technology, Clear believes creating known fan programs can continue to make experiences safer and easier." A former Clear executive put it this way: "If you wanted to do predictive analytics to show who at a stadium is more likely to bring a gun in, they have the ability to do that."
Here's the company pitch if anyone is interested : https://www.clearme.com/how-it-works/
(Score: 0, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @03:16AM (11 children)
sounds extremely "white" to me.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Sunday October 13 2019, @03:21AM
LOL - but, these guys are really really serious!! They can make you an honorary white guy!!
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @03:23AM (9 children)
Is handling bypassing the security provisions of a federal agency.
Of course we know the answer: it gets around those pesky constitution limitations on how they may use our biometric data, and lets the government buy it back from these companies to avoid those pesky legal guidelines stacked against them.
*THIS* is why private companies need to be following the same constitutional limitations as the federal government on other citizens personal information. Because otherwise you make the benefits of private sector/government collusion too lucrative to break up.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @03:44AM
Maybe this is a good thing? After all, at that price, many of the customers will be "masters of the universe". When the breach comes they get to find out first hand what it's like to be permanently compromised.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday October 13 2019, @04:04AM (1 child)
The Jews did this. To make money at your expense, as usual.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @04:37AM
Or, Boston Dynamics, and their toady underling, the Ethanol_floundered! I think that if we have enough dots to connect, and enough Striesanding of the the Eth, either they will stop survelliencing us, or Eth will no longer be able to afford to anti-Semite on the SN. Just saying.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by driverless on Sunday October 13 2019, @12:06PM (4 children)
Or you can live somewhere other than the United States of Total Paranoia, where the security lines are 5-10 minutes long even on busy days.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @12:47PM
That's optimistic. I missed a plane due to a long ass TSA line once.
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Sunday October 13 2019, @10:30PM
The last time I flew home from Melbourne an American woman asked the Australian security guy whether she should take off her shoes yet?
He looked at her like she was drunk and said "Why the hell would you do that"? People laughed.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 14 2019, @04:52AM (1 child)
"where the security lines are 5-10 minutes long even on busy days." - where would that be?
I fly all over Europe and there's ALWAYS a stinkin line that takes longer than 10 minutes to go through. Usually because European airports don't like to man the ticket counters/check in until just before a flight.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Monday October 14 2019, @09:50PM
I'm flying in about half an hour so I decided to time things, 8 minutes to get from check-in through to after security. This is early morning so a relatively busy time, in Australia.
Most amusing check-in experience was in Croatia, where some US tourists were getting ready to strip to their underwear, or so it seemed. One of them asked the Croatian security guy how much they needed to do for the security check, and he replied by asking whether they were carrying firearms. When they said "no" he waved them through.
Good sensible approach to security.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @01:18PM
It is probably more accurate than the existing system. Of course it also makes border security in the U.S. a capitalist system, which pretty much puts it in the same group as Russia, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, The Congo.... etc. etc. etc.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @03:22AM
https://news.delta.com/delta-expands-optional-facial-recognition-boarding-new-airports-more-customers [delta.com]
Delta expands optional facial recognition boarding to new airports, more customers
(Score: 3, Insightful) by aristarchus on Sunday October 13 2019, @04:04AM (2 children)
So clear is the Uber of security clearance! Almost as good an idea as "for profit prisons", or "Blackwater war crimes contractors"! Has the United States really lost sight of what the purpose and function of a government is? It is not about making money, or pro squid, or squid going pro, or quid quo pro.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @04:05AM
Great Soyvertisement, Eds, may you be trapped in a hell of infinite TSA gropings!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @04:29PM
It's to enrich the Orange One, of course. He can do no evil!
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @04:36AM (8 children)
I tried signing up for TSA Pre two years ago. They refused me, because I have various objections to being fingerprinted.
Nevermind that they are required by the first amendment to respect religious objections to fingerprinting (they don't). Or that they can perfectly easily complete a background check for an elderly people whose fingers don't give a usable print, by using more extensive non-biometric personal information.
I'm thinking about trying again, and covering my fingers in cyanoacrylate (superglue) before going in for the fingerprinting. I'd tell them that the glue is a chemical from my job, so I can't help it.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Sunday October 13 2019, @04:52AM (2 children)
This is another case in which I agree with the sentiment. But . . . you think that you might like to avoid long lines by making yourself known to the people in charge of those lines. They say, "This is how we ensure that you are actually you whenever we see you!" Your response, "But, I have religious objections to having you do these things to me!"
A: you are not really interested in their service
B: you have just identified yourself to the TSA as a potential extremist
Maybe you should have vetted this whole idea with members of your faith who are a bit more world savvy?
(Score: 3, Touché) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Sunday October 13 2019, @06:25AM (1 child)
I think 100% of their customers check that box: nobody is interested in their service, anymore than anybody is interested in getting a coloscopy, given the choice.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @02:29PM
Go through the TSA line and get a free coloscopy as a bonus.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Sunday October 13 2019, @06:22AM
Well they do: you've simply been rejected from the program. They didn't take your fingerprint and enroll you by force.
And you'll be rejected again.
If you do try it though, make sure the glue dries fully before putting your palm on their reader :)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @03:11PM
Last time I flew, I got precheck without ever signing up.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @10:13PM
Also it is cheaper than this 'clear' company (85 bucks).
https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/faq [tsa.gov]
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Sunday October 13 2019, @10:39PM (1 child)
What religion has objections to fingerprinting? And why?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 14 2019, @08:22AM
Mine.
I don't share its name or define it but I assure you that the taking of fingerprints or eye prints or the like including storing images of such is strictly forbidden.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @05:04AM (4 children)
Or, how about we just abolish the TSA, or otherwise 'repeal and replace' it with something that doesn't violate the Constitution and people's rights? If it makes the cowards in our country feel better, we could even pay anti-terrorism "experts" to stand around looking for suspicious people in airports. Anything but this abomination!
(Score: 4, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Sunday October 13 2019, @06:04AM (3 children)
Israel has a better system. They just profile people. It works. If you have an Arabic name, you can expect more attention, and if you have Jewish name, you may reasonably expect less attention. If you wear clothing that could easily hide a suicide vest, you can expect more attention, and if you wear a skimpy, revealing outfit, you might expect a different type of attention (but only if you are physically attractive to members of the opposite sex). If you approach the plane shouting "alla akhbar" you can expect a lot of attention, while the guy murmuring prayers in Yiddish might warrant some eyerolls (he's afraid of flying, LOL).
Profiling works. When looking for a terrorist, you look for people who look like terrorists, rather than groping a bunch of pre-schoolers and their mothers, AND grandmothers.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Sunday October 13 2019, @06:16AM
If you approach the plane shouting "alla akhbar" you can expect a lot of attention, while the guy murmuring prayers in Yiddish might warrant some eyerolls (he's afraid of flying, LOL).
Any person of any color, of any religion, murmuring prayers in any language in any social setting feels like threat to me. And the Israeli should feel the same: one of their prime ministers was assassinated by one of their kind.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 14 2019, @02:30PM (1 child)
Very easy to do when your governmental system allows for classism.
There are more blacks in jail so it's OK to pull people over for driving while black, right?
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday October 14 2019, @02:39PM
Perhaps you should discuss that with the people who support our modern-day form of slavery. https://soylentnews.org/submit.pl?op=viewsub&subid=36833¬e=&title=California+Law+Bans+For-profit%2C+Private+Prisons%2C+Immigration+Detention+Centers [soylentnews.org] Tell your representatives that you want to see all prison-for-profit outlawed.
(Score: 2) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Sunday October 13 2019, @06:06AM (3 children)
that is 100% artificial, and only exists because it relies on the deficiencies of the administration.
Kind of like attorneys really: lawyers interface ordinary people with the absurdly complicated legal system, when the law should be readily understandable by the citizenry. And just like attorneys, Clear's "service" seems extremely expensive, and only available to the rich.
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Sunday October 13 2019, @07:37AM (2 children)
There are cheaper options [cnet.com]. This post is an ad, right?
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Sunday October 13 2019, @07:51AM
Oh hey, and they're right in the summary. Sorry about that.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @07:51AM
I submitted the story. Had never heard of Clear until the other day when a close friend (with TSA Pre) reported hearing about the company...while waiting in hour long TSA lines at MSP.
To make avoid looking like an advert, the pull quote I used includes the same three services as noted in your Cnet link...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @06:50AM (1 child)
From TFS:
What's a "Wall Street" company?
Inquiring minds want to know.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @07:39AM
In the fine article it is explained that one of the founders of Clear was formerly the founder of a hedge fund.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @11:06AM (3 children)
The "pre check" and "known traveler" stuff is complete nonsense. You go through the same phony security theater, you just have a shorter line. The line is shorter because most people are not paying the fee.
It is exactly the same as toll lanes, except that traffic delays are a real problem, and security delays are a self-inflicted problem.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @02:04PM
No not nonsense.
There is no point in getting rich if you can't use the money.
Taking advantage of this public resource lets the few enjoy being the few.
In moderation, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer is a useful outcome.
To be fair, everybody should have to wait in the same line.
(Perhaps even if you are on a private jet.)
Imagine if every member of Congress had to wait like this.
That would fix the TSA problem for everybody really quickly.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @09:54PM (1 child)
How is this different from the halal certification scam?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @10:42PM
> How is this different from the halal certification scam?
You don't miss your plane because your meat isn't blessed?
You only give Clear your biometrics once??
You don't eat the security clearance???
Come on, these are completely different things, except that both are for-fee options that may make you feel better.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by bzipitidoo on Sunday October 13 2019, @02:15PM (3 children)
"Shana, they bought their tickets. They knew what they were getting into. I say, let 'em crash!"
I often wonder if we'd be better off not checking everyone, and slightly increasing the risk that a suicidal terrorist gets through. Would sacrificing one plane load to terrorists every other year actually be less costly to society than the current extreme blanket security theater? Use deterrence so the would-be terrorists think twice before trying it. Certainty that they will all be found out and hunted down is strong stuff.
There are all kinds of other ways terrorists could kill lots of people. There are too many things to cover for this strategy of prevention to be effective. As for planes, other causes of crashes greatly outnumber terrorist attacks.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @03:18PM (1 child)
If they could get through security, the muzzies would blow up a plane every week, ordinary crazy Americans once a year. It is why they have moved on to using trucks of peace now.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 14 2019, @09:54AM
They can easily get through security. The TSA misses over 90% of firearms that people try to smuggle onto planes, according to a test conducted by the DHS.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 13 2019, @10:30PM
Bombing the TSA checkpoint would cause far greater damage than blowing up a plane, and it'd be much easier. Such an attack would likely shut down the entire airport for at least a day, which costs god knows how much economic loss. Furthermore, it would cause people to fear the TSA checkpoints themselves after it happened a few times, thus actually achieving the goal of terrorism.
(Score: 2) by Tokolosh on Monday October 14 2019, @03:25AM (1 child)
I refuse to pay money to have my Fourth Amendment rights violated in a slightly different way. Stop enabling this nonsense.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 14 2019, @08:09AM
Then stand up for your rights.
You don't have to be afraid!
I like it loud!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 14 2019, @01:55PM
I travel a bit so I signed up. Basically, it is a third queue type after regular line and the pre-check line. All they do is identity verification: you go to the Clear queue and then you are brought to the front of one of the other queues, depending on if you have pre-check or not. It saves me ~30 minutes on average, depending on the airport. My wife and I went through it at LAX and we definitely skipped a 45 minute queue on an international flight so that was nice. Basically, you are paying to move the front of the line. If you fly less than once a month, you probably would not care; I travel for work a bit so I just expense it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 14 2019, @02:20PM
The US government throws up an artificial security theatre system at the airport(The TSA)...then says you can pay to get through it quicker.
That smells of a corporation paying to get a legal loophole enacted or even a mild form of extortion.
We have had a lot of similar paid laws in my country recently.
1. A new law on the books says electric entrance gates on houses now have to be certified every few years - low and behold as soon as the law is announced theres a company in place advertising certification checks for your gate!
2. A new law specified that in certain areas, septic tanks have to be certified and inspected every year...conveniently there was already a company up and ready to do business as soon as the law is announced!
Either way, if all are equal why are some more equal than others?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 14 2019, @02:27PM (1 child)
Because nothing says equality like being able to take shortcuts if you have the money to do so! Just like those who see no need for net neutrality.
(Score: 2) by ElizabethGreene on Monday October 14 2019, @10:32PM
I get your point, but isn't flying is a shortcut you take if you have the money to do so? Flying a private plane definitely is. Flying GA is an amazing experience. Park for free 15 feet from the door, walk through the lobby, shake hands with the pilot, and get in the plane. 10/10 would fly again.
(Score: 2) by ElizabethGreene on Monday October 14 2019, @10:28PM
I've seen Clear in a few Airports including Dallas, Austin, and Atlanta. It is substantially different from Pre-check. With Clear, a human being (a Clear employee) meets you at the kiosk and, after you are authenticated, walks you to the front of the pre-check line. The pre-check line in Austin will queue 20+ minute delays at peak times, so if you lived there it might be worth it.
That's the value proposition. You get the expedited screening of pre-check and to skip the queue of people for the ID check.
If they were in Nashville (my home airport) I would be a member. They aren't, so I'm not.