I detest the TSA, and government overreach, but I'm failing to see the issue here. Even before the optional photo system was introduced, they would stick my ID in a scanner, this seems like the same thing but the work is outsourced to me. Admittedly, I place less value on my privacy than the average HN commenter, given I opted in to Clear which lets me bypass lines using biometrics, a trade-off I was glad to make.
Then, people have raised the unrelated issue of why ID checks are needed at all, and I can think of a couple, not sure of the actual reason:
1) Checking that you're not on the no-fly list.
2) Checking that there isn't a BOLO out on you, so that people with warrants, parole etc can't skip town easily.
The argument that it is to prevent secondary markets for tickets sounds hollow - airlines do their own ID checks when printing the boarding pass and at the gate.
Then, people have raised the unrelated issue of why ID checks are needed at all, and I can think of a couple, not sure of the actual reason: 1) Checking that you're not on the no-fly list. 2) Checking that there isn't a BOLO out on you, so that people with warrants, parole etc can't skip town easily.
The argument that it is to prevent secondary markets for tickets sounds hollow - airlines do their own ID checks when printing the boarding pass and at the gate.