As airports across the nation continue to see record-setting crowds, passengers may encounter advanced technology at the security line. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is expanding a controversial digital identification program that utilizes facial recognition at 25 airports in the US and Puerto Rico.
This development comes as the TSA and other divisions of the Department of Homeland Security face pressure from lawmakers to update their technology and enhance cybersecurity measures.
“We believe that this program improves security and efficiency. The facial recognition technology enables fast image capture, saving several seconds, if not a minute,” stated TSA Administrator David Pekoske.
At Atlanta, the world’s busiest airport, the TSA checkpoint now utilizes a facial recognition camera system to compare a traveler’s face with their ID photo within seconds. If there is no match, the TSA officer is alerted for further examination.
“Facial recognition technology is significantly more accurate,” said Pekoske. “We have conducted extensive testing, and we can confidently state that it brings the accuracy level close to 100%, compared to the mid-80% accuracy achieved when a human analyzes a facial match.”
This program has been rolled out to over two dozen airports nationwide since 2020, and the TSA plans to introduce the technology, currently voluntary for flyers, to at least three more airports by the end of this year.
However, there are skeptics. Five US senators have sent a letter demanding that the TSA halt the program.
“There is no need to compromise individuals’ biometric security in order to ensure physical security at airports,” expressed Senator Ed Markey.
Pekoske agrees with the senators’ concern about protecting the privacy of every passenger.
“I want to implement accurate technology that does not disadvantage anyone,” he emphasized.
Privacy advocates express concerns about the lack of regulatory framework around facial recognition technology and its tendency to be less accurate when detecting people of color.
While most images are promptly deleted after use, some encrypted information is retained for up to 24 months as part of the ongoing assessment of the technology’s performance.
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