The Transportation Security Administration has recently introduced facial recognition technology at security checkpoints at Pittsburgh International Airport. After handing over their driver’s license, travelers are asked to stand to the left and look at a camera. Within a second, the TSA agent confirms a match and allows the traveler to proceed.
The new technology, known as Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2), scans a traveler’s photo ID, confirms their identity and flight information, and captures a real-time photo using a camera. Once a match is confirmed by CAT-2, the TSA officer can verify it, and the traveler can continue without showing a boarding pass. The photo taken is then deleted to protect privacy.
Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s federal security director for the airport, emphasized that the technology aims to ensure the identity of passengers and confirm their flight status for the day. The CAT-2 units are capable of authenticating various types of IDs, including passports, driver’s licenses, and military access cards.
Despite the deletion of photos, travelers uncomfortable with the process have the option to opt-out and undergo an alternative identity verification process. This new technology at Pittsburgh International Airport is part of ongoing efforts to enhance security and streamline the travel experience for passengers.
