“Once identity and clearance are confirmed, passengers proceed directly to physical screening, bypassing the TSA podium while still undergoing all security screening,” CLEAR said about its new biometric electronic gates.
The agency is seeking solutions that “leverage innovative technology” to improve the security screening experience for both travelers and TSA personnel.
The review comes after a bipartisan group of senators previously called for the watchdog to look into TSA’s use of biometric tools “from both an authorities and privacy perspective.”
A DHS analysis found that self-identified Black volunteers who participated in testing of TSA’s biometric tools had the lowest face matching success rate of any demographic group, with an overall accuracy of 98%.
The TSA under David Pekoske oversaw sweeping pipeline and rail cybersecurity directives as part of a broader Biden-era push to bolster U.S. cyber posture. It’s unclear why he was asked to leave.
Members of the House Homeland Security Committee are asking GAO to investigate the benefits and potential harms of TSA’s usage of artificial intelligence and biometrics.
In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General, 12 senators warned that the deployment of facial biometrics at every U.S. airport could create “one of the largest federal surveillance databases overnight without authorization from Congress.”
The agency argues its Nov. 8 proposed rulemaking will dually address the transportation industry’s regulation concerns while ensuring they’re suitably protected from hackers. Others want to wait and see.
Federal agencies would have the option to gradually require the secure documents after May 7, in part to avoid chaos at state DMVs when the deadline approaches.
A bill to keep all 9/11 security fee collections at TSA would help the agency more quickly deploy facial recognition capabilities, but its supporters say privacy still needs to be prioritized.
The measure is one of three bipartisan proposals rolled out this week that seek to bolster funding for TSA’s deployment of new technologies and to limit invasive pat-downs of travelers.
The Transportation Security Administration chief told lawmakers that it will take until 2049 to deploy facial recognition technology at U.S. airports if significant revenue from the 9/11 security fee continues to be diverted away from the agency.
A Senate amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill would pause additional rollout of the TSA’s facial recognition technology until Congress has reviewed the agency’s program.
The Transportation Security Administration is already using facial recognition to verify the identity of travelers but wants to improve its scanners to detect more prohibited items.
The Office of Management and Budget’s recent guidance on the government’s responsible use of AI elevates TSA's practice of allowing travelers to decline biometric scans at airport security to national policy.