April 20, 2023 at 11:56 pm

Face Scanning Could Be Coming to All Major U.S. Airports

by Matthew Gilligan

It seems like the advancements in airport security technology keep getting more innovative by the day, and it’s about to get even more impressive.

At 16 airports around America, the TSA is currently testing facial recognition software to verify the ID of passengers at kiosks. The goal is to make the airport experience more convenient and faster, and to eliminate person-to-person contact.

Screen Shot 2023 04 15 at 5.51.26 PM Face Scanning Could Be Coming to All Major U.S. Airports

Photo Credit: Pexels

TSA spokesperson R. Carter Langston said, “Biometric technology has the potential to enhance security effectiveness, improve operational efficiency, and yield a more streamlined passenger experience at the TSA checkpoint. TSA recognizes that biometric solutions must be highly usable for all passengers and operators, considering the diversity of the traveling public.”

This is how the process works: TSA agents verify a live image that is captured on a screen compared with the image of a person’s face from their ID. It is then matched against a database of faces. If passengers are uncomfortable with the process (for now), they can request a standard ID check.

The pilot program started in 2020 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport during the height of the Covid pandemic to minimize contact between people.