The Transportation Security Administration is moving forward with plans to implement facial recognition technology at U.S. airports and is working with the Department of Homeland Security's research and development component to analyze data to ensure that the new units are working correctly, agency officials told Nextgov/FCW. 

A TSA official said the agency "is currently in the beginning stages of integrating automated facial recognition capability as an enhancement to the Credential Authentication Technology devices that had been deployed several years ago."

The latest CAT scanners — known as CAT-2 units — incorporate facial recognition technology by taking real-time pictures of travelers and then comparing those images against their photo IDs. TSA first demonstrated the CAT-2 units in 2020 and began deploying the new screeners at airports in 2022. A Jan. 12 press release from the agency said it added "457 CAT-2 upgrade kits utilizing the facial recognition technology" in 2023.

"The CAT-2 units are currently deployed at nearly 30 airports nationwide, and will expand to more than 400 federalized airports over the coming years," the TSA official said, noting that it is currently optional for travelers to participate in facial recognition screenings. Those that decline to do so can notify a TSA agent and go through the standard ID verification process instead.

The official added that the agency has "visible signs at all airports that have CAT devices with automated facial recognition technology" and has "updated all CAT device screens with clear language that notifies travelers they may decline having their photo taken."

"Limited testing" to ensure accuracy

The agency's CAT-2 units employ so-called one-to-one verification, where photos are generally compared against a government-issued identification, such as a driver's license or passport, and then deleted from the scanner. This is often considered less privacy-invasive than so-called one-to-many matching, where a photo is compared against a larger database compiled of known individuals' images to determine if there is a match.