Same here. I always refuse facial recognition when possible, but they had no problem using it on return from international travel. The systems aren’t linked (yet).
It doesn't slow down the line, they hold you at just about every crowded airport until the line for the luggage/body scanner are ready for the next person. Even if it did, though, I have the right to opt out, so you will wait until I've exercised my right. Deal with it. :)
I reject it because I don't believe in a world where rampant facial recognition should be the norm.
When I was in Haneda airport, a machine tells you which of 4 lines to go to and if you have forgotten there is a screen with live camera feed from screen POV and little boxes drawn on top kinda above you with your line.
I thought it was pretty neat, but felt super invasive.
CBP facial recognition is far less invasive. It's not an instance of "rampant facial recognition" in my opinion. There is really no downside, "they" already know you might be at the airport because you booked a ticket, since most US airports don't let to the air side without a ticket. You are already on bunch of cameras inside the airport, including right when:
1) your ID verified by human or by a kiosk
2) when you drop off your bags
3) when you board the plane
4) every other time you have to show your ID or boarding pass
You say these points as if they're not day-one considerations of this discussion.
If they know that already, then they don't need to use facial recognition. It acts as a de-facto endorsement of the idea that it should be used everywhere else in society, which is what my issue is.
I also lived in Japan for a number of years and I'm familiar with their system at the airports. Japan is not America and I do not find it useful or interesting to compare the two approaches; when I lived there - and indeed, whenever I go back - I'm aware of and resigned to the aspect of that society not giving a shit about it all. I do not think America needs to be the same way.
