The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is rolling out its advanced Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2) at Pittsburgh International Airport.
The system uses facial recognition to streamline and strengthen the identity verification process for travelers. Now, instead of solely relying on a visual ID check, a traveler’s real-time photo, taken at the checkpoint, is instantly cross-referenced against the photo on their ID document.
CAT-2 is designed to bolster security by flagging fraudulent, expired, or tampered-with identification. The system boasts an extensive database of over 2,500 ID types, including passports, military credentials, and visas. It leverages sophisticated computer vision technology to detect inconsistencies that might signal illegitimate identification documents.
Importantly, the captured photos are not stored. Once a traveler’s identity is verified, their live photo is immediately deleted, addressing privacy concerns. Travelers also have the choice to opt out of facial recognition in favor of a traditional ID verification process.
Alongside the security enhancements, the deployment offers a potential benefit of streamlining the TSA screening experience. Travellers will no longer need to present their boarding passes separately since the system integrates ID verification with boarding pass information.
The Pittsburgh rollout aligns with a nationwide TSA initiative to deploy CAT-2 technology across US airports. Officials emphasize that the new process is intended to bolster security and combat fraudulent IDs without significantly increasing the time required for the TSA screening process.
Source: Government Technology
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April 26, 2024 — by Ali Nassar-Smith
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