Facial recognition set to expand across U.S. airports

Travelers can expect biometric facial‑recognition technology to spread at U.S. airports this year, as systems designed to speed security, customs, immigration and boarding let passengers keep documents in their pockets. Airports are deploying e‑gates that use facial recognition to verify a traveler’s identity and authorization to be in the United States, a move that has raised worries among some privacy experts and immigration activists.

Select airports are testing other systems as well: Orlando International is piloting a "biometric corridor" of mounted cameras that can identify multiple travelers in motion. More carriers, including Alaska Airlines and American Airlines, are working with the Transportation Security Administration on a Touchless ID process that allows travelers to move through security without showing physical identification; it is available at more than two dozen airports and is expected to be used at 65 by this spring, according to the T.S.A.

A facial‑recognition verification program called Enhanced Passenger Processing is also expanding and may let more U.S. citizens who are not in Trusted Traveler programs opt into a quicker immigration check when re‑entering the country. Government officials say the biometrics are intended to improve border security and speed passenger processing.

Key Topics

Tech, Facial Recognition, U.s. Airports, Transportation Security Administration, Touchless Id, Enhanced Passenger Processing