How Biometrics Travel: Reimagining Opt-Out Logics

Morgan C. Banville Massachusetts Maritime Academy ; Kimberlyn Harrison The University of Texas at Austin

Abstract

This article demonstrates how biometric technologies operate through security logics, and how technical communicators can resist the process of securitization through what we refer to as “opt-out logics.” We question security logics through a case example of public-facing documentation from the Transportation Security Administration on the use of biometric technologies for domestic travel at airports across the United States. Our analysis focuses on three security logics: improving efficiency, mitigating risk, and paternalistic concern for passenger experience. To consider how these logics structure encounters, both authors provide personal narratives of their experience with biometric technologies in airports. Finally, drawing from tactical technical communication, we offer opt-out logics as modes of resistance in three categories: documentation, pedagogy, and design. We argue tactics of resistance are ways technical communicators can engage in resisting the expectation to opt in to systems.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2026-01-01
DOI
10.1177/00472816251384948
Open Access
Closed
Topics

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

Cites in this index (9)

  1. Poroi
  2. Rhetoric Society Quarterly
  3. Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 9 →
  1. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Also cites 23 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1080/13621025.2012.669962
  2. 10.1016/j.polgeo.2006.02.001
  3. 10.1215/9780822375302
  4. 10.1145/3359248
  5. 10.1215/9780822375463
  6. 10.1145/3328020.3353927
  7. 10.24908/ss.v6i3.3280
  8. 10.37514/PEI-J.2024.27.1.12
  9. 10.1215/01642472-23-2_83-35
  10. 10.18574/nyu/9780814732090.001.0001
  11. Toward fairness in AI for people with disabilities: A research roadmap
    ACM SIGACCESS Accessibility and Computing  
  12. 10.1007/978-3-031-18865-7_7
  13. 10.1215/9780822375463-005
  14. 10.37514/PEI-J.2024.27.1.14
  15. 10.1016/j.jjimei.2021.100049
  16. 10.1177/1532708616657098
  17. 10.4324/9780203858042
  18. 10.18574/nyu/9781479833641.001.0001
  19. 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2007.07.004
  20. 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2020.101919
  21. 10.4324/9780429198748
  22. 10.1080/09662839.2021.2021889
  23. 10.2307/jj.29248391.20
CrossRef global citation count: 0 View in citation network →