Everything to know about TSA facial recognition and whether you should opt in
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been slowly rolling out a facial recognition program that eliminates the need for
physical identification at security checkpoints
.
The TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program is being used in more airports across the US and uses facial recognition technology to match your face to the photo on your identification to speed up the screening process. It comes as the
TSA prepares for a major ID rule change
.
From May 7, TSA agents will begin enforcing REAL ID requirements across the country. Passengers over the age of 18
catching a flight in the US
will be required to present a passport or an upgraded state-issued identification card that meets federal REAL ID standards.
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TSA says PreCheck Touchless ID is more convenient, efficient and secure (stock image)
(Image: Getty Images)
However, if the scan works for those opted into the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program then you may not need to hand your ID to a TSA officer at all. The facial recognition program is voluntary, leading to many passengers wondering whether or not they should opt in.
Here's everything you need to know.
What is TSA PreCheck Touchless ID?
TSA PreCheck Touchless ID "enhances the security screening process with facial recognition technology for faster, more efficient identity verification," according to the TSA. The program utilises facial identification technology to verify the identities of travelers at security checkpoints.
While you would usually hand a TSA officer your physical ID, which must be a REAL ID from May 7, if you are enrolled in the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID you instead stand in front of a kiosk that captures an image of you from the chin up.
'The technology compares biometric templates of passengers' live photos to a pre-staged gallery of existing passport or visa photo templates,' a TSA representative
told AFAR
.
When did the TSA start using facial recognition?
The TSA first launched the Touchless ID program in March 2021 at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in partnership with Delta and United. The program was expanded to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in June the same year.
Since then, the program has continued to expand and is available at
Los Angeles
International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport with Delta Air Lines. The service has also been launched in partnership with United at Los Angeles International Airport and O'Hare International Airport.
Passengers traveling with Alaska Airlines through Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will also be able to use TSA PreCheck Touchless ID.
TSA is making a major change to ID rules next month (stock image)
(Image: Getty Images)
Who is eligible for TSA PreCheck Touchless ID?
TSA PreCheck members traveling with participating airlines, which include Delta, United and Alaska Airlines, can use the Touchless ID program at participating airports. Travelers are required to opt in to Touchless ID.
On your airline profile, you must fill out your Known Traveler Number, enter a valid passport number and country and select "OPT IN" on your profile or during check in. Once you have opted in, you will receive a consent indicator on your mobile boarding pass making you eligible for the facial recognition process.
Travelers who have opted in to the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program must still carry a physical ID as a back-up and are required to present it if asked by a TSA officer.
Should you opt-in for TSA PreCheck Touchless ID?
The TSA encourages opting in to the PreCheck Touchless ID program, claiming it is more convenient, more efficient, more secure, and offers more privacy.
A key concern with facial recognition technology is privacy. In the case of the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, participation is voluntary and members can opt out at any time. According to the TSA, the Department of Homeland Security deletes this data within 180 days.
The agency states: "TSA officers now use biometric cameras to assist with identity verification. Your photo and personal data are deleted after your identity is verified. Images are not used for law enforcement, surveillance, nor shared with other entities."
However, Joshua McKenty, CEO and co-founder of Polyguard, a cybersecurity company focused on data privacy and protection, suggests the reality is more complicated.
'Should I opt into any government system that uses my biometrics? Guess what—practically speaking, you don't have a choice,' he told AFAR. 'All modern passports and Real ID documents, etc., involve capturing and storing facial biometrics. If you want to travel, you're already rolling the dice here.'
McKenty notes that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) already use facial biometrics and that while CBP doesn't retain them, the information is stored on the DHS's Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT).
'Even if you do opt out of that 'last step,' it probably doesn't change your privacy posture at all,' McKenty explains. 'Photos of permanent residents and foreign nationals are never deleted from IDENT, and the rules on removal of photos of U.S. citizens are increasingly vague.'
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