Posts by ykhong@mas.to
(DIR) Post #AR5iCTS7Iy1N2heOLQ by ykhong@mas.to
2022-12-28T22:40:20Z
3 likes, 6 repeats
Since folks asked what happens whenever I opt out of facial recognition, I documented it for you while going through US border patrol. Coming out of the flight there was a row of kiosks for facial biometric capture. There were no people. Just kiosks. So I kept walking.The next point of contact was the passport agents at their desks. Agent A asked me, “Did you take your photo at the kiosk?” I said, “No, I am opting out of biometric facial recognition.” And the agent asked, “Why?” 🧵
(DIR) Post #AR5iCVK2LykKqDsy1o by ykhong@mas.to
2022-12-28T22:40:55Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
And I said, “Because I don’t like it.” And the agent said, “Wait here,” and then let the people behind me through. After a bit of this punitive behavior, agent A sent me to agent B.Agent B said, “Why? Why don’t you want to do it?” And I said, “Because I don’t want it. I want to opt out.” He paused and twisted his face. Then he pointed at a sign and said, “Read that.”2/
(DIR) Post #AR5iCYq3HP8bkNt4qW by ykhong@mas.to
2022-12-28T22:41:33Z
1 likes, 2 repeats
The sign read: “U.S. citizens and select foreign nationals who are not required to provide biometrics and who wish to opt out of the new facial biometric process may simply notify a CBP officer, request a manual document check, and proceed with processing consistent with existing requirements for entry into the United States.”It’s almost as if everyone entirely forgot how to do a manual check, which was being used for everyone until about a year ago. 3/
(DIR) Post #AR5iCaceeBbrHPdPF2 by ykhong@mas.to
2022-12-28T22:41:56Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
And then agent B again said, “So you want to opt out?” Again I said, “Yes, I want to opt out.” And then he said, “Why?” And I said, “Because I don’t like my image being taken over and over.” And then he shook his head.He said, “You know we already have your photo right?” And I said, “Yes, but I don’t like my biometrics continuously being captured.” Then he said “Okay well I have to call someone.” And he just sat there looking very upset.4/
(DIR) Post #AR5iCcOC4vEMl8ssym by ykhong@mas.to
2022-12-28T22:42:26Z
2 likes, 1 repeats
Then agent C arrived at the adjoining desk to begin work. And agent B said, pointing at me, “She doesn’t want to do the face scan. Which manager do I call?”Agent C then said, “You don’t have to call anyone. Just look at her face and then compare it to her passport photo.”And I said, “Yes, how it used to be done just a year ago.” And agent B said, “You’re my first opt out.”5/
(DIR) Post #AR5iCdvuL3nDXzfKAS by ykhong@mas.to
2022-12-28T22:43:01Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Then agent C said, you just have to enter on the screen why she doesn’t want it.” So again, I said, “I don’t like the repetitive image capture.”Agent B said, “You’re losing the advantages of going through quickly.” I said, “That’s fine.” He shook his head.Finally, after a lot of fumbling on their end, I was able to proceed through.Even though it says, I can “simply notify a CBP officer,” it is not simple at all./6
(DIR) Post #AR5iCfiVhqGT51PeYy by ykhong@mas.to
2022-12-28T22:43:06Z
3 likes, 1 repeats
Opting out of facial recognition should be as easy as it is to opt in. The fact that it’s not tells you an immense amount. Make it as hard as possible for anyone to take your very personal data.Normalize opting out so it is never taken for granted. 8/
(DIR) Post #AR5iChQVLl3ANl0Im8 by ykhong@mas.to
2022-12-29T03:27:54Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
I believe anyone who is BIPOC, is read as Muslim, gender nonconforming, disabled, queer, an immigrant, or any of identities that white dominant culture is trying to control and abuse, is at risk. I have had much worse experiences opting out. And I know others have had much worse.This is a great space for those who can and are able, to do allyship work. 9/
(DIR) Post #AR5iCj7R3cz7dC66KW by ykhong@mas.to
2022-12-29T04:51:36Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
As a genderqueer queer Korean I have always experienced violence going through security. So this is an added factor I am always aware of whenever I do anything against the current. Sometimes I have to weigh the violence of my data being harvested from me against the violence of harassment (physical, verbal, and mental). 10/
(DIR) Post #ARID1zNzfMpZjZ98M4 by ykhong@mas.to
2023-01-03T21:00:55Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
The desire to be proximal to whiteness by people in the Asian diaspora, particularly and especially by my fellow East Asians, is exactly the plan of white dominant culture and imperialism. White dominant culture and imperialism want the Asian diaspora to be the wedge.They want the Asian diaspora to be anti-Black.
They want the Asian diaspora to be the buffer.White dominant culture and imperialism engineered the “Model Minority” myth to create us as that wedge. 🧵
(DIR) Post #ARID219X66S5DIOc5o by ykhong@mas.to
2023-01-03T21:01:30Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Here’s the thing. You don’t have to do what white dominant culture wants you to do. Do not be that wedge. Do not be that buffer.Do not give up what your ancestors fought for.Be part of the global majority that you are. And that means building WITH, not against, other people of the global majority. Black, Indigenous, People of Color.2/
(DIR) Post #ARID22ncyW7OJwA9E8 by ykhong@mas.to
2023-01-03T21:01:53Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Particularly my fellow East Asians, do not, DO NOT align yourself with whiteness. Don’t fall into white dominant culture’s trap. The Asian diaspora is so varied and diverse.And we are Ancient Vastness.Do not give that up for anything.3/
(DIR) Post #Av0eq2TeHhGomzOa3c by ykhong@mas.to
2025-06-11T03:35:26Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
Abolish Palantir. Palantir Technologies is not a data analytics company. It is, as its own CEO and founder has stated, a “digital kill chain.”It is being used to faciliatate the genocide of Palestinians, by I CE to enable them to abduct our people, and surveil every single person in the Imperial Core across all platforms and movement to track our biometrics, financial and social credit, behavior, and privacy. Palantir is death. We cannot allow them to exist. Abolish Palantir.
(DIR) Post #AvZCSK4BsOsva4oJU0 by ykhong@mas.to
2025-06-27T14:21:11Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
Repeating my past recommendation to leave Spotify. I have recommended leaving them in the past for their exploitation of artists. Recently, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek invested $700 million in military AI company Helsing. And he is also now their chairman. With the profits he made from preying on artists and subscribers alike, he is taking a lead role in facilitating militarism, war, and genocide.
(DIR) Post #AvdPwprsHR1Sw1llh2 by ykhong@mas.to
2025-06-29T20:26:23Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
A reminder that Pride was an uprising against police surveillance and violence, particularly of and against trans folks, sex workers, and People of the Global Majority. It was called Gay Liberation Day before it was called Pride.Let’s embrace our queer roots again.
(DIR) Post #Ax1Wk3EscRbJcDDOmO by ykhong@mas.to
2025-08-09T13:04:31Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Meta and Google, in league withperiod tracking app Flo, shared and violated Flo users’ data.It goes without saying, that not only is this illegal, but it breaches privacy, and puts people at profound risk.Google, Flo, and data analytics firm, Flurry, settled prior. Meta proceeded to trial, and a jury just concluded that they tapped in on and violated Flo users’ privacy globally.Not all apps are always trying to steal your data, but most of them do.And Big Tech always does.
(DIR) Post #AxzsXW5Fv3ffmrjlZY by ykhong@mas.to
2025-09-05T21:58:16Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Google signed a 6-month, $45 million contract in June to promote propaganda for the settler colonizer Israel. This is in addition to the billions already spent on tech toward the genocide. This is a reminder that no one needs to use Google products at all. Check out my De-Google Your Life Series at liberationtoolbox.io to work toward de-centering all Big Tech platforms from your life.
(DIR) Post #B0SI4V2ofJyURNhQMC by ykhong@mas.to
2025-11-21T00:46:38Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
It is 100% reasonable to normalize wearing a brimmed hat, sunglasses, mask, and play around with your gait, all on a regular basis.Because that is an appropriate response to the state normalizing surveillance.Additionally, we are also constantly in times of viruses, germs, UV rays, dust, and exhausted resting faces.Hats, sunglasses, and masks can help with all of the above.