Biometrics Technology

TSA is evaluating facial recognition technology to automate the identity and boarding pass verification process at the checkpoint. Today, TSOs and airline employees manually compare the passenger in front of them to their photo ID. Automating current identity verification capabilities can improve the performance and security of TSA operations by increasing assurance of traveler identity beyond what current manual processes alone can provide.

TSA, in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, conducted a test at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in October 2017 using CBP’s facial recognition technology. A second test of facial recognition technology with CBP was conducted at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in early 2018, and continues at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

In late August 2019, TSA will conduct a new facial verification test at the McCarran International Airport (LAS).

Beginning in late August 2019, TSA will conduct a short-term test at McCarran International Airport (LAS) to test the automation of the identity verification portion of the Travel Document Checker (TDC). The test will use facial recognition technology added to TSA’s Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) machines. TSA will assess its ability to compare the passenger’s photo taken at the checkpoint against an image taken from the passenger’s identity document. TSA will collect the passenger’s photo, along with certain biographic information from their identity document, and temporarily retain it for subsequent technical analysis by S&T for this test.

What passengers can expect

A Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) device will be equipped with a camera at the checkpoint. The CAT with Camera (CAT-C) will validate that the identity document presented by the passenger is authentic; collect the photo image and limited information from the document; and capture the passenger’s live facial image for identity verification. The CAT-C device will verify that the document belongs to the person presenting it. Because this is just a test of the technology, once the facial matching result is recorded, TSA personnel staffing the CAT-C will direct the passenger to the standard TDC process for manual identity and travel document verification, regardless of the biometric matching results.

Participation is voluntary. Only travelers in the TSA Pre✓® lane who volunteer to participate in the test will be processed with the CAT-C device. TSA will provide notice to travelers via signage, and TSA personnel will have hand-outs available to provide additional information about TSA’s biometric screening technology and data protection procedures.

For more information about regarding privacy, please review the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the LAS test.

In November 2018, TSA began testing facial recognition technology at the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Terminal F as an alternative means to verify a passenger’s identity when they begin screening at a TSA security checkpoint. This ongoing pilot is in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and tests biometric technology for identity verification. The technology used is the Traveler Verification System maintained by CBP. We also tested this system in the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport from August to October 2018.

Participation in the facial recognition test is voluntary. Passengers who choose not to have their picture taken should notify a TSA officer.

What passengers can expect

When passengers present their boarding passes, a TSA officer will ask if they would like to have their picture taken instead of providing physical identification documents. CBP’s system will attempt to compare that picture to photos in government databases, such as photos obtained from passports or visa applications, to verify the passenger’s identity. TSA does not store the photograph.

If CBP’s system confirms a match to a photograph in a government database, the passenger’s name and date of birth will be sent from the database to a tablet used by the TSA officer. The TSA officer will then use the information displayed on the tablet to verify the identity of the passenger and direct the passenger to proceed with physical screening.

If CBP’s system cannot match the passenger’s picture, the database will indicate that no picture match could be made. Where the system does not produce a match, the TSA officer will use standard document checking procedures.

After the passenger completes screening, a CBP officer may approach and ask to speak with the passenger. The CBP officer will run further checks, which may include a review of immigration and law enforcement databases available to CBP. These databases may reveal whether the passenger is subject of a warrant or other immigration or law enforcement action.

For more information about CBP’s exit program, please visit their biometric air exit website. For more information regarding privacy, please visit the DHS Traveler Verification Service website.

Fingerprint technology can be used to verify identity, allowing a traveler’s fingerprints to serve as both a boarding pass and identity document. The technology matches passenger fingerprints provided at the checkpoint to those that were provided to TSA by travelers when they enrolled in the TSA Pre✓® application program.

In June 2017, TSA tested fingerprint technology at a TSA Pre✓® lane at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and at Denver International Airport.