article on Disney fingerprints....

[Eyore4Ever149]

For years, Walt Disney World has been reading the shape of visitors' fingers on its property. Now, the upgraded controversial finger scanning machines scan fingerprint information.


"Privacy advocates worry that Disney is getting too much of your personal information and their concern is where that information goes after it is scanned," Local 6 reporter Jessica D'Onofrio said.

Disney representatives said the technology does not store the entire fingerprint image and scanned information is purged in 30 days.

"We are not collecting fingerprints," Disney representative Kim Prunty said. "We are not collecting personal information. The sole purpose is to create a numerical value that links out guest with their Magic Your Way tickets.

"They're collecting fingerprints," Central Florida ACLU President George Crossley said. "They're taking fingerprints. They can call it whatever they want. They're taking fingerprints. Everything that chips away at personal rights, anything that chips away at the right to privacy, I'll always be concerned about."

"The system takes an image, it identifies points on that image and measures the distance between those points and immediately creates a numerical value on the blink of an eye," Prunty said. "And it's the numerical value that's stored in our system and recalled when a guest reenters our turn styles using their Magic Your Way tickets."

The Central Florida ACLU said they know Disney is not doing anything illegal but said people should know what they're submitting to before they enter the park.

"If Uncle Sam decides to hit Walt Disney with a subpoena because they want those records, what is Walt Disney going to do?" Crossley said. "They're going to provide the records right?"

A Disney representative said visitors who object to the finger scanners can use a photo ID instead. However, that option is not advertised at the theme parks.

The machine upgrades should be completed by the end of September, the report said.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.



Copyright 2006 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.local6.com/news/9774630/detail.html

 

[bicker]

My feeling is that you don't like it, don't go.

If you come to my house, I expect you to keep your feet off the coffee table. My house my rules. And if I'm showing my house for sale, I have no qualms about secretly videotaping you walking around my home, without warning you about it.

 

[mking624]

There's a thread here about it:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1212532

 

[TheRustyScupper]

{SOAPBOX FIRMLY IN PLACE}

1) The ACLU should go back to defending Nazi's.
2) Just stay out of my beloved WDW.
3) The ACLU admits there is nothing wrong here.
4) They just want controversy for more donations.
5) If they don't like fingerprints, just go to Universal or stay home.


{SOAPBOX RETURNED TO ITS STORAGE LOCATION}

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

RustyScupper- all I have to say is "EXACTLY!!!"

Bicker- CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss!!!!!!!!!! You both look fabulous! And of course if I ever come to your house Ill keep my feet off the coffee table!

 

[raven69david]

Disney representatives said the technology does not store the entire fingerprint image and scanned information is purged in 30 days.http://www.local6.com/news/9774630/detail.html

Hmmm.....i wonder if leftover tickets older than 30 days can be re-used by someone else if the stored fingerprint scan is purged after 30 days.

 

[bicker]

No. The limitation on the number of days the fingeprint is stored doesn't change the non-transferability of the tickets.

 

[LorieR]

{SOAPBOX FIRMLY IN PLACE}

1) The ACLU should go back to defending Nazi's.
2) Just stay out of my beloved WDW.
3) The ACLU admits there is nothing wrong here.
4) They just want controversy for more donations.
5) If they don't like fingerprints, just go to Universal or stay home.


{SOAPBOX RETURNED TO ITS STORAGE LOCATION}

Well said!!!

 

[Allison]

Hmmm.....i wonder if leftover tickets older than 30 days can be re-used by someone else if the stored fingerprint scan is purged after 30 days.

Actually, this article doesn't have the full information in it which is misleading. If you look at the article here on the DIS it says it is 30 days AFTER THE TICKET EXPIRES OR IS FULLY USED.

http://wdwinfo.com/news/article_00365.htm

Prunty downplayed privacy issues, saying the scanned information is stored "independent of all of our other systems" and "the system purges it 30 days after the ticket expires or is fully utilized." Visitors who object to the readers can provide photo identification instead -- although the option is not advertised at park entrances.

 

[seashoreCM]

From what was described, Disney's system does not save fingerprints.

1. When you use the ticket for the first time the system captures information about your fingers, calculates one or two numbers, and saves nothing but those numbers.

2. When you use your ticket thereafter the system captures information about your fingers in the same manner, calculates one or two numbers, compares the number(s) with the numbers previously saved, and does not save anyting more.

3. It is impossible to take the numbers already saved and regenerate all of your finger information. Simple example: The system records one number, the sum of the length and fatness of your index finger. Even you will agree that it is impossible for the FBI or Homeland Security to take that one number and get back the length and fatness of your finger. But the turnstile finger scanner can do it again (add, not subtract) tomorrow and the number it computes then is fully usable for verifying that the same person is using the ticket.

This system is called "forward hashing only" and is also useful for storing passwords because in the latter case it is impossible to tell what the password is by examining the stored codes (called hash codes). and it is almost impossible to guess a new password that would "hash" to become the same stored code. (Don't ask me where I got the term "complementary symmetry")

Whereas a system that scrambles (or hashes) your password when you first choose your password but unscrambles (or unhashes) the saved hash code to get back the password and compare with what you typed in for your second session is a system with "forward and backward hashing". (Don't ask me where I got the term "push pull".)

4. One more thing, Disney does not have name and address information to go with each ticket's finger information and other data, except with annual passes. Only when you visited and showed someone the MYW ticket with your name written on it would they be able to match up that information.

 

[Mickey1122]

My feeling is that you don't like it, don't go.

If you come to my house, I expect you to keep your feet off the coffee table. My house my rules. And if I'm showing my house for sale, I have no qualms about secretly videotaping you walking around my home, without warning you about it.

I agree 100%. If you are afraid of fingerprint issues, just don't go. It's as simple as that.