The U. S. Transportation Safety Administration is testing an automated security check system at 16 U.S. airports. The system, which automates the process of checking ID at security, is also raising privacy questions.
The system eliminates passengers showing a driver license or other ID to an agent on the way to the scanning line; instead, the ID is inserted in a slot, triggering an attached camera to take a photo of the passenger, check the image against the document, and check if the document is genuine.
While the process reduces the number of agents checking ID and speeds up access to screening, a number of critics have pointed to the possibility or even likelihood that the system, which is said to delete the photos within 24 hours, might eventually lead to government agencies compiling photos and other data on travelers.
Another concern that has been raised is the long-known bias in facial recognition software that makes it less likely to accurately identify people of color.
