CBP Promotes Biometric Passenger Screening Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend

CBP recommends that travelers educate themselves about the facial recognition tech used in biometric passenger screening

US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has shared some handy tips for anyone looking to get away during the upcoming holiday weekend. Much of it is good advice for any traveler – it’s always wise to follow the guidelines for food, pets, and imported goods – but there is a particular emphasis on biometric entry and exit procedures that feels noteworthy in light of recent trends.

Specifically, CBP recommends that travelers educate themselves about the facial recognition tech that matches a live scan against photos stored in a pre-existing government database to validate a passenger’s identity. The scan allows travelers to pass through security checkpoints more quickly, and presumably cuts down on time during a busy long weekend.

CBP notes that passengers may opt out of the facial recognition program in favor of more traditional methods of authentication. However, the organization is clearly hoping that travelers will become more comfortable with the new technology.

At the very least, it suggests that the CBP’s expansion of biometric eGates is not slowing down any time soon. The facial recognition tech has already been deployed at numerous airports across the country, including Detroit, Washington DC, and New York. It has also made its way to two land boarder crossings.

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May 24, 2019 – by Eric Weiss