In a letter sent on Thursday, a bipartisan group of senators is calling for restrictions on the use of facial recognition technology by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The senators are concerned about the potential invasion of travelers’ privacy and civil liberties. They want Senate leaders to include limits on the technology in the upcoming reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, which would allow Congress to establish oversight mechanisms for its use by TSA.
Currently, TSA has been implementing facial recognition technology in select airports as part of a pilot project. The agency claims that this system improves the accuracy of identity verification without causing delays at security checkpoints. However, passengers have the option to opt out of using this technology if they have concerns about their privacy. Additionally, TSA states that all photos and IDs are deleted once a passenger has passed through the security checkpoint.
The call for restrictions on facial recognition technology comes amid growing concerns about its potential misuse and impact on individual privacy rights. By advocating for oversight mechanisms and limits on its use, lawmakers hope to strike a balance between security needs and safeguarding the rights of travelers.
