Feds expand facial recognition scans at Charlotte airport. ACLU still has concerns.
More facial comparison technology is being added at Charlotte Douglas International Airport to streamline the security process for people entering the U.S.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations showcased Global Entry processing technology on Wednesday that allows the expedited clearance for preapproved and low-risk travelers upon arrival in the U.S. Travelers stand in front of a kiosk for a picture for clearance, rather than going through the traditional arrival process.
Eligible travelers can also use the Mobile Passport Control app by submitting a document, photo and customs declaration on their smartphone or mobile device.
At Charlotte Douglas several upgrades for Biometric Facial Comparison technology were brought to the public in recent years. There’s also the outbound Biometric Exit program, which started in October to identify passengers before international flights out of Charlotte Douglas. It was installed at 65 gates.
Charlotte’s airport started using facial recognition on passengers coming from foreign countries in May 2021. At the time, Charlotte was the only port of entry in North Carolina with the software. It’s now available at Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport, Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Wilmington International Airport.
More than 300 million travelers have gone through biometric facial processing and it has stopped more than 1,800 “impostors” from entering the U.S., the CBP said.
CBP Spokeman Rob Brisley said the agency has the authority and responsibility to confirm the identity of international travelers through their travel documents and U.S. passports. CBP has used passports, visa photographs, and fingerprints for passengers entering the country. Biometric Facial Comparison Technology is now part of the process.
CBP officers also showcased an agriculture K9 unit, known as the Beagle Brigade. Officials said the purpose was to provide protection from dangerous pests, bugs, and prohibited items.
How does facial technology work?
At the port of entry, a traveler will pose for a photo and a CBP officer will review their travel document, passport or visa photo.
The new photo of the traveler will be compared to their travel document. The comparisons take a few seconds and the match rates at airports is more than 99% accurate, according to CBP.
Brisley emphasized that CBP is committed to privacy obligations and has taken steps to safeguard the privacy of all travelers.
New photos of U.S. citizens will be deleted within 12 hours. Photos of foreign nationals are stored with the Department of Homeland Security.
Invasion of privacy concerns?
Although officials said it’s a convenient process for travelers, not everyone is in favor of the technology, including the American Civil Liberties Union.
Cody Venzke, ACLU senior policy counsel, is in support of the Traveler Privacy Protection Act, a bill that would prevent the Transportation Security Administration from using facial recognition technology in airports.
Venzke said people across the country are concerned about the use of facial recognition technology. One of the reasons is because of the technology being potentially discriminatory, he said.
“It’s been demonstrated over and over again, that it has a harder time with accuracy with regards for people of color, women, and people with disabilities,” he said. “The potential for expansion is very serious and lots of folks across the country have chimed in to weigh against that.”
Brisley conveyed that it’s not mandatory for U.S. citizens to have their pictures taken and that they may notify an CBP officer and request a manual document check.
Venzke said he tried to opt out and was peppered with questions about his flights.
“Although the use of facial recognition technology is supposed to be entirely optional, I can tell you right now the signage was not at all readable — that the use of the facial recognition technology was optional,” Venzke said. “And the fact that I was subject to all type of questions about my flight made it feel like I was being punished for opting out.”
Venzke disagrees on the safety and security aspects of the technology.
“I have not seen any evidence that the use of facial recognition technology at security checkpoints is keeping us safer,” he said. “All it does is ensure that the person that is one the ID has a facial match, which again is not 100% accurate. “It raises the question, how does that prevent people who want to harm us from entering airports and boarding flights.”
Scott Sams, assistant port director, said CBP takes privacy seriously, emphasizing how pictures are discarded for U.S. citizens. Foreign nationals are saved and matched for outbound travel. He said CBP is trying to be innovative with traveler experiences in a digital world.
“You use a smartphone in your facial comparison to open your phone nowadays,” he said. “CBP is trying to jump onboard with that to streamline process because that gives our staff and our officers more opportunity to focus on the bad people and the bad things coming in versus the compliant travelers.”
This story was originally published December 12, 2023 at 1:00 AM.
