Some international travelers will have their face scanned before boarding at Philadelphia International Airport, writes Ellie Rushing for The Washington Post.
A 45-day pilot program begins this week at Gates A15, A16, and A17 using facial recognition scanners that cross-check a live image of a person with their government photos.
The scanners will help U.S. Customs process passengers and speed up boarding.
Three different scanners will be used at each gate for select outbound international flights on Qatar, British Airways, Lufthansa, and American Airlines. The airport will assess which brand performed best for permanent use.
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol will also be installing the system at the Federal Inspection Station for travelers entering the country through Philadelphia.
“It is designed to expedite boarding by eliminating the time gate attendants take to verify the traveler’s identity manually,” said Stephen Sapp, a CBP spokesperson.
Over time, the technology is expected to replace a paper check-in process.
The installation is part of a federal mandate and a more-than-decade-long push by Congress to track foreign travelers who enter and exit the country.
Privacy advocates fear bias, inaccuracy, and potential misuse of the information collected.
Read more about the new scanners coming to the airport here.
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