Thoughts on Children's Fingerprints for GE/Nexus
Sep 13, 2018, 6:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
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Thoughts on Children's Fingerprints for GE/Nexus
I know a lot of people get their kids enrolled in GE/Nexus, specially since Nexus is free for children. Wondering what everyone's thoughts are on giving up your children's fingerprints? I'm definitely no privacy freak, I gave mine up willingly no problem. I'm on the fence. Part of me just can't help but feel like it's not my decision to give my children's fingerprints away. The other part of me really wants to still be able to use the GE/Nexus lines while travelling haha!
Sep 13, 2018, 7:50 pm
#2
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Moderator's Action
The Trusted Travelers forum is informational. Members come there in search of information and practical advice about applying for the various Trusted Travelers programs and using them.
Commentary, opinion and debate of the privacy implications of fingerprinting children belong in the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate forum. Please follow this thread as it moves there.
Thank you for understanding,
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Commentary, opinion and debate of the privacy implications of fingerprinting children belong in the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate forum. Please follow this thread as it moves there.
Thank you for understanding,
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Sep 14, 2018, 6:10 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
I know a lot of people get their kids enrolled in GE/Nexus, specially since Nexus is free for children. Wondering what everyone's thoughts are on giving up your children's fingerprints? I'm definitely no privacy freak, I gave mine up willingly no problem. I'm on the fence. Part of me just can't help but feel like it's not my decision to give my children's fingerprints away. The other part of me really wants to still be able to use the GE/Nexus lines while travelling haha!
As I said in an earlier thread, the TSA does not require ID from an individual until the age 18; why do they believe that the same person should be required to give his/her fingerprints to use PreCheck between the ages of 13 and 18? Is this just another way to get more money from citizens, especially since TSA itself gets the largest chunk of your $85.
You can sacrifice for your child's well-being until they are legally of age.
Sep 14, 2018, 7:41 am
#4
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Moderator's Note: Topic Drift
As I said in an earlier thread, the TSA does not require ID from an individual until the age 18; why do they believe that the same person should be required to give his/her fingerprints to use PreCheck between the ages of 13 and 18? Is this just another way to get more money from citizens, especially since TSA itself gets the largest chunk of your $85.
Please get back on topic.
Thank you,
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Sep 14, 2018, 8:21 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,082
Parents make all kinds of decisions that can last a lifetime for their children. If the family travels internationally a fair amount then each parent group should decide if they want to enroll their children in a Trusted Travelers program like GE. I don't see the issue, government already knows who the children are, they are reported on tax returns, have SSN's, and other information that's in official records.
Last edited by Boggie Dog; Sep 14, 2018 at 8:40 am
Sep 14, 2018, 8:51 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2017
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If you apply for GE you need a passport. If you apply for a passport you will get fingerprinted at time of GE. Thus, you need to be open to giving up your fingerprints.
Plus many foreign countries and even ours are routinely doing finger print scans at the borders.
Get over it!
Plus many foreign countries and even ours are routinely doing finger print scans at the borders.
Get over it!
Sep 14, 2018, 1:08 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
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If you apply for GE you need a passport. If you apply for a passport you will get fingerprinted at time of GE. Thus, you need to be open to giving up your fingerprints.
Plus many foreign countries and even ours are routinely doing finger print scans at the borders.
Get over it!
Plus many foreign countries and even ours are routinely doing finger print scans at the borders.
Get over it!
I’m not saying I’m completely opposed to having my children’s fingerprints taken. As I said in my original post I’m on the fence. I’m just curious what people’s thoughts are.
I will agree with some of the other posters that anonymity is definitely on the way out and this is becoming more and more moot. Still I just can’t fully shake the idea that giving up fingerprints is my children’s decision.
Sep 14, 2018, 2:28 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
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Posts: 2,194
We don’t have to give up fingerprints for passports here in Canada. We went through the regular line with just passports last week going into the US and there were no fingerprint machines. GE is still optional.
I’m not saying I’m completely opposed to having my children’s fingerprints taken. As I said in my original post I’m on the fence. I’m just curious what people’s thoughts are.
I will agree with some of the other posters that anonymity is definitely on the way out and this is becoming more and more moot. Still I just can’t fully shake the idea that giving up fingerprints is my children’s decision.
Sep 14, 2018, 2:59 pm
#12
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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We don’t have to give up fingerprints for passports here in Canada. We went through the regular line with just passports last week going into the US and there were no fingerprint machines. GE is still optional.
I’m not saying I’m completely opposed to having my children’s fingerprints taken. As I said in my original post I’m on the fence. I’m just curious what people’s thoughts are.
I will agree with some of the other posters that anonymity is definitely on the way out and this is becoming more and more moot. Still I just can’t fully shake the idea that giving up fingerprints is my children’s decision.
I’m not saying I’m completely opposed to having my children’s fingerprints taken. As I said in my original post I’m on the fence. I’m just curious what people’s thoughts are.
I will agree with some of the other posters that anonymity is definitely on the way out and this is becoming more and more moot. Still I just can’t fully shake the idea that giving up fingerprints is my children’s decision.
I understand your concerns but our American friends might not. One of the distinguishing features that separate Canadians from Americans is fingerprinting. It's commonly used as a means of identification in America than in Canada. I had never been fingerprinted until I applied for Nexus.
Sep 14, 2018, 3:20 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
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We don’t have to give up fingerprints for passports here in Canada. We went through the regular line with just passports last week going into the US and there were no fingerprint machines. GE is still optional.
I’m not saying I’m completely opposed to having my children’s fingerprints taken. As I said in my original post I’m on the fence. I’m just curious what people’s thoughts are.
I will agree with some of the other posters that anonymity is definitely on the way out and this is becoming more and more moot. Still I just can’t fully shake the idea that giving up fingerprints is my children’s decision.
Sep 14, 2018, 3:44 pm
#15
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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