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!

  • SomeAmateur@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    9·
    22 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