US: Facial recognition is coming to an airport security lane near you

Someday soon you may not have to show a driver’s license or passport at the airport security lane in the US. The TSA on Monday unveiled a multistep plan to make increased use of facial recognition and other biometric identification tools to improve accuracy and speed wait times. TSA, which has tested biometric systems in Los Angeles and Atlanta, will start using the technology on international travellers entering and leaving the US and then expand to tests on domestic passengers enrolled in the agency’s PreCheck programme, according to a 23-page report outlining TSA’s plans. “With the threat to aviation evolving every day, developing the next generation of security technology with our industry partners is critically important,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. TSA is following on the heels of Customs and Border Protection, which is boosting its use of facial recognition for people entering the US. Airline passengers must show proof of identification before entering a TSA screening lane along with their boarding pass. This allows TSA to check names against terrorist watch lists and verify identities of passengers. Using facial-recognition software or fingerprints would replace those manual checks and are seen as less prone to fraud. <br/>