How to get TSA PreCheck while protecting privacy? (lemmy.world)

submitted 20 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) by mulcahey@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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I'm in a bit of a bind. I have to get TSA PreCheck, but I really don't want to give up my biometric data to the government. I've read that TSA PreCheck requires my fingerprints and possibly my photo (it's unclear). Interesting, though, is that when you're enrolled in PreCheck you do not get fingerprinted when passing through the airport.

So, I plan to fill in my fingerprints with superglue when I sign up for PreCheck. Weak fingerprints are a condition that affect a lot of people -- construction and farm workers, chemo patients, or some people just have it genetically -- so I don't think it will be too weird if my fingerprints don't show up well in the scan. From what I've read (FlyerTalk, Washington Post) you can still get PreCheck even if you have weak fingerprints. And, since they don't check my fingerprints at the airport, I'm not worried about ever having to match this scan.

My face is effectively a lost cause at this point, so I'm not gonna sweat that one.

My questions.

Is there any reason my fingerprint plan won't work?
The PreCheck sign-up process is run by private companies (Idemia, Telos, Clear) and I can choose which one to use. I am going to rule out Clear. Is there any advantage between using Idemia or Telos?
Is there anything else I should know before signing up?

EDIT: Wow, these replies are so useless, I had to check to make sure I wasn't on reddit!

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[-] Moose@moose.best 17 points 19 hours ago

I'm sorry you don't think people are being helpful but I don't think the replies are useless, they just aren't what you want to hear. This is a bad idea, have you considered what would happen if you get caught? You'd be lying on a government form, the TSA can fine up to $17,000 and potentially limit you from flying (which sounds necessary for your career). It's up to you to choose but I would much rather ask my company to waive the requirement and explain why you feel that way before taking a risk like that.

[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 22 points 20 hours ago

The point of precheck is to identify you. If you don't want that, don't sign up.

[-] mulcahey@lemmy.world 4 points 20 hours ago

Sadly I must sign up. I have managed to avoid it for many years, but it's a requirement for my work.

[-] irotsoma 2 points 14 hours ago

Not sure why it's required for your job since it is a convenience thing rather than a requirement to fly anywhere in particular. It's a very specific kind of background check and the agency doesn't share information with employers in general. So that makes little sense to me. Perhaps you can ask them why and suggest a more appropriate background check system if that's what they use it for.

But either way, a background check is required for PreCheck and background check means giving up private information to allow the TSA to get all of your data that the government has on you. Privacy would defeat the entire purpose.

[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 9 points 20 hours ago

Politely decline. If it's a firm requirement, look for a new job.

[-] mulcahey@lemmy.world 2 points 19 hours ago

Yes, that's definitely sensible and doable

[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 8 points 19 hours ago

Yup. Just depends on how strongly you hold your principles.

[-] upstroke4448@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

This is silly. You are either going to get in trouble or it simply won't work. Most airports are going to force you to do facial recognition anyway when you go to show them your ID.

If your fingerprints don't show up well enough they just won't pass you for precheck. You don't get to falsely claim its a condition and they go "oh OK".

[-] mulcahey@lemmy.world 2 points 14 hours ago

Actually, if you read either of the links provided above, you'll see that that's exactly what happens

[-] upstroke4448@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 13 hours ago

One is paywalled and one just gives me a blocked page.

Give it a try and update the post. If I was a betting man I'd bet it won't work.

[-] blackbrook@mander.xyz 10 points 20 hours ago

It seems like getting caught having tried to obscure your fingerprints would be bad. How does one fill them in without it looking like you have a mess of glue on your fingers? Is there some technique for making it smooth so that you don't produce prints that look obviously messed with?

They definitely want your photo. They will photograph / scan your face everytime you fly.

[-] mulcahey@lemmy.world 1 points 19 hours ago

They definitely want your photo. They will photograph / scan your face everytime you fly.

This is already the case.

How does one fill them in without it looking like you have a mess of glue on your fingers

A simple layer of superglue.

[-] WindAqueduct@lemmy.ml 4 points 13 hours ago

This is already the case.

You can opt out of TSA facial recognition and CBP facial recognition

[-] monovergent@lemmy.ml 6 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

Bear in mind that many modern fingerprint readers can work through even a latex glove, defeating non-destructive attempts to obscure fingerprints.

Also, a wet, wrinkly fingerprint is usually not recognized unless it is itself also enrolled on a fingerprint reader. Perhaps too anecdotal and conspicuous, but I'll throw it out there too.

[-] SomeAmateur@sh.itjust.works 8 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

Fingerprints are the least invasive of biometrics imo. If your fingerprints are weak the govt may put you under more scrutiny "just in case" and I think that would be a much greater violation of your privacy

Prints prove you were in a place just like an airport camera and airline records would. As long as your phone/computer etc isn't unlocked via fingerprint that's really all it can be used for on most cases. Don't get me wrong it isn't ideal and I see your point of wanting to avoid giving that away regardless

[-] monovergent@lemmy.ml 3 points 20 hours ago

Not an answer to your question, but it would be interesting to see how much those companies already have on all of us already since the TSA sometimes hands out a free trial of PreCheck without any action on the traveller's part.

this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2025

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