Facial recognition technology was used to permit passengers to get on flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport last week, making it the first in the nation to use the system. The technology can be used by international passengers traveling through a special terminal, which is operated by Delta Airlines. Delta said it is the first fully biometric (生物特征识别) airport terminal to operate in the U.S.
The goal of the system is to simplify and speed up the process of presenting documents to get on a flight. Passengers can begin using the facial recognition system when they first arrive at the airport. After the first check-in, passengers can also use face recognition to pass through security and to get on the plane. The system prevents the need for travelers to present their passport up to four times during the usual check in process. Travelers look into a camera that scans their face. This image is then compared against a collection of pictures kept by the CBP (U. S. Customs and Border Protection). The agency collects face scans from passports and visas.
The system, however, has raised concerns about privacy. Jeramie Scott, a lawyer with the Electronic Privacy Information Center, has called the use of facial recognition at U. S. airports a "massive threat". He said that the government has created "a digital ID of millions of Americans" through facial recognition, and the government's facial recognition database of citizens could he used for other purposes without an individual's permission. "The government now has the power to identify you whenever it wants. And they did this without a public discussion or consent taking photos collected for one purpose and using it for another," he said.
The CBP told CBS News that any U. S. citizen who has privacy concerns can choose not to take part in the facial recognition system. This would prevent the airline from collecting a face scan to compare with SBP records. Its policy is to remove photos of U. S. citizens from its system once their identifies have been confirmed.
Delta Gay about two percent of passengers using the Atlanta airport terminal have chosen not to use the facial recognition system. Next year, the airline plans to expand its biometric system for international travelers at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Michigan.
