The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is progressing with its initiative to introduce facial recognition technology at U.S. airports, collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security’s research and development division to assess data accuracy in the new systems, according to agency officials who spoke to Nextgov/FCW.

A TSA representative mentioned that the agency is in the initial phases of integrating automated facial recognition capabilities as an enhancement to the Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) devices deployed several years ago.

The most recent CAT scanners, known as CAT-2 units, include facial recognition technology by capturing real-time images of travelers and comparing them to their photo IDs.

TSA initially showcased the CAT-2 units in 2020 and started deploying them at airports in 2022, NextGov reported.

According to a press release from the agency on January 12, 2023, it added “457 CAT-2 upgrade kits utilizing facial recognition technology.”

The TSA official stated that the CAT-2 units are currently operational at nearly 30 airports across the country and are set to expand to over 400 federalized airports in the coming years.

Travelers have the option to participate in facial recognition screenings, and those who choose not to can inform a TSA agent and undergo the standard ID verification process instead.

Written by B.C. Begley