More AI Safeguards Coming, Including Right to Refuse Face-Recognition Scans at US Airports (cnn.com) 23
This week every U.S. agency was ordered to appoint a "chief AI officer".
But that wasn't the only AI policy announced. According to CNN, "By the end of the year, travelers should be able to refuse facial recognition scans at airport security screenings without fear it could delay or jeopardize their travel plans." That's just one of the concrete safeguards governing artificial intelligence that the Biden administration says it's rolling out across the U.S. government, in a key first step toward preventing government abuse of AI. The move could also indirectly regulate the AI industry using the government's own substantial purchasing power... The mandates aim to cover situations ranging from screenings by the Transportation Security Administration to decisions by other agencies affecting Americans' health care, employment and housing. Under the requirements taking effect on December 1, agencies using AI tools will have to verify they do not endanger the rights and safety of the American people. In addition, each agency will have to publish online a complete list of the AI systems it uses and their reasons for using them, along with a risk assessment of those systems...
[B]ecause the government is such a large purchaser of commercial technology, its policies around procurement and use of AI are expected to have a powerful influence on the private sector.
CNN notes that Vice President Harris told reporters that the administration intends for the policies to serve as a global model. "Meanwhile, the European Union this month gave final approval to a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence law, once again leapfrogging the United States on regulating a critical and disruptive technology."
CNN adds that last year, "the White House announced voluntary commitments by leading AI companies to subject their models to outside safety testing."
But that wasn't the only AI policy announced. According to CNN, "By the end of the year, travelers should be able to refuse facial recognition scans at airport security screenings without fear it could delay or jeopardize their travel plans." That's just one of the concrete safeguards governing artificial intelligence that the Biden administration says it's rolling out across the U.S. government, in a key first step toward preventing government abuse of AI. The move could also indirectly regulate the AI industry using the government's own substantial purchasing power... The mandates aim to cover situations ranging from screenings by the Transportation Security Administration to decisions by other agencies affecting Americans' health care, employment and housing. Under the requirements taking effect on December 1, agencies using AI tools will have to verify they do not endanger the rights and safety of the American people. In addition, each agency will have to publish online a complete list of the AI systems it uses and their reasons for using them, along with a risk assessment of those systems...
[B]ecause the government is such a large purchaser of commercial technology, its policies around procurement and use of AI are expected to have a powerful influence on the private sector.
CNN notes that Vice President Harris told reporters that the administration intends for the policies to serve as a global model. "Meanwhile, the European Union this month gave final approval to a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence law, once again leapfrogging the United States on regulating a critical and disruptive technology."
CNN adds that last year, "the White House announced voluntary commitments by leading AI companies to subject their models to outside safety testing."
Hmm (Score:4, Insightful)
Would've been nice if they'd showed this kind of concern when airport security was x-raying people. I suppose ionizing radiation = good, AI face recognition = bad.
Yes, I realize you're exposed to naturally occurring radiation from flying on a plane. That's all the more reason to limit your dose from other sources.
Re: (Score:2)
They're about 0.1uSv at maximum strength. A flight from LA to DC is about
Compare this to the average exposure to radon, which is about 2.4mSv, or 2400uSv per year, or about 6.5uSv per day, or about 65 x-ray backscatters per day.
The risk of that is even debatable, since LNT is essentiall
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, "right to refuse" = "right to be harassed" (Score:5, Interesting)
I refused the various scanners for years. They'd request a pat down instead. Over the years they--I'm certain intentionally--got slower and slower with it. I had one time I ended up waiting 45 minutes for an "available officer" to do it. All while I had about $10k in computer and camera gear sitting on a scanner belt somewhere that I couldn't see it (something they are required to take care of and make sure it is in sight). I still hate that I gave in and started doing the scans after that bullshit.
Add to that the fact that none of them know their own rules on how firearms are to be handled, forcing me to violate laws on their behalf multiple times.
Post 9/11 there are exactly two things that happened that actually matter in terms of airport security:
- Hardened cockpit doors and protocols surrounding the use of those doors
- Passengers know to fight back and not capitulate to attackers
Absolutely nothing the TSA has done has been of any value what-so-ever. They constantly fail tests and have yet to verifiably have stopped a single attack.
Re: (Score:3)
But those post 9/11 provisions succeeded in making Michael Chertoff [wikipedia.org] extremely rich, as well as the members of his "Chertoff Group" (he-and-his made money on every nude body scanner sold).
So, their true purpose was accomplished.
Re: Yeah, "right to refuse" = "right to be harasse (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Or just don't travel anymore like I do.
Re: (Score:1)
I'd prefer (Score:2, Insightful)
Not being treated like a criminal by the government without any evidence. If I have to undergo a proctology exam to get on a plane you're already assuming I'm up to something nefarious which, unless I'm mistaken, is the exact opposite of what the Constitution says.
Yeah, yeah. There's no right to fly on a plane in the Constituion. But there is a right not to automatically be found guilty.
Unless you're very wealthy (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
If you're very rich, you just get on your private jet and say things like:
"Jeeves, I wanted that bottle of Maison des Prostituées chilled to 50F and this is 50.5F. What kind of uncivilized fool do you take me for? Put that back in the chiller and don't serve it to me until it's 50F!"
Re: (Score:2)
The right to refuse a facial recognition scan is going to be useless. Because the airport cops are going to put you through the ringer if you refuse the scan.
They are gonna service you real good.
Re: Unless you're very wealthy (Score:2)
Obligatory Futurama (Score:3)
Reading the headline, what immediately sprang to mind was the following - not because it's funny, but because we unfortunately seem to really be moving in this direction...
Nixon's Head: "My fellow Earthicans, we enjoy so much freedom it's almost sickening. We're free to choose which hand our sex-monitoring chip is implanted in. And if we don't want to pay our taxes, why, we're free to spend a weekend with the Pain Monster."
Pain Monster: "See you April 15th, folks!"
AI calling itself "I" likely causes mental illness (Score:2)
Suckers (Score:1)
Right to refuse Face scanning just means they finally perfected other recognition models, like gait tracking, and want to make you think you can visit an airport without being identified by automated systems.
Wear masks all you like, it's no use anymore. You will be identified and cataloged.
Re: Suckers (Score:2)
Hear me out. There are high res cameras all over the airport. The ticket scanner at TSA is connected to a network. Your ticket has your name details. You are required to be maskless while in front of TSA. All of that means you are tracked the moment you walk past TSA. It is very likely you are tracked beforehand but it is unequivocally without a doubt that you are tagged on a screen somewhere as you walk about.
Re: (Score:1)
Hear me out. There are high res cameras all over the airport. The ticket scanner at TSA is connected to a network.
I'm talking more the area outside the security zone where you can go without a ticket.
But you are right that it's pretty meaningless you can opt out of Facial scanning to enter an area where they already know way more than most people about you.
Doesnâ(TM)t matter (Score:2)
Have we not learned from Trump, if it is not enshrined in law it can be repealed with the mark of a pen. This is all show and is not rea. Enjoy the temporary freedoms though
Forget airports (Score:2)
I want to opt out of facial scanning at Kroger, Home Depot, and Walgreens.
Another meaningless political announcement (Score:2)