Facial Scan Technology Coming To Philly Airport

PHILADELPHIA — A new screening process will be tested at three international gates of the Philadelphia International Airport in an effort to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection process departing passengers.

Starting Jan. 21, the airport will launch a 45-day pilot program using biometric screening technologies at three international gates.

The screening technology is designed to verify travelers' identities by cross-checking facial scans with photos already on file with the federal government, the airport said.

Customs and Border Protection has been mandated by federal law to use biometric exit screenings for foreign nationals — excluding Canadian citizens who don’t require a visa to enter the U.S. and diplomatic and government visa holders.

"We are excited to welcome this new technology to the airport," said PHL Airport CEO Chellie Cameron. "Working with our partners at CBP and our airlines will ensure our continued dedication to safety and security."

As a partner to Customs and Border Protection, the airport will install equipment to capture facial images of travelers exiting the United States. Customs and Border Protection will install the system for travelers entering the country.

The test of three types of biometric systems, veriScan, NEC and SITA, will be conducted at gates A15, A16 and A17 for select outbound international flights on Qatar, British Airways, Lufthansa and American Airlines.

Airport officials say these airlines will choose which flights use the technology.

Other airports in the country have launched the technology, including New York, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City.

"Travelers who do not wish to participate in this facial comparison process may notify a CBP Officer or an airline or airport representative in order to seek an alternative means of verifying their identities and documents," Customs officials said.

All United States citizens' photos are discarded 12 hours after identity verification, according to officials.

But privacy advocates say strict rules must be enforced to ensure data stays safe.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) said travelers have cause to be concerned about the technology's increasing presence in airports.

"The American people deserve answers to those questions before the federal government rushes to deploy biometrics further," Thompson, who is chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, told the outlet.

Here's how it works: a device such as an iPad or tablet is mounted on boarding gate kiosks. As a passenger walks towards the biometric scanner, the facial recognition device will scan their face and compare it to a database.

If the face matches, the machine will clear the passenger. In the event a passenger does not get a match, they will be allowed to board using their passport, PHL officials said.

The program will also include the first-ever test of digital instruction signs. New digital signs will display multimedia, bilingual information to let passengers know about the biometric cameras and give instructions on how to use them.

Airport officials hope the signs increase passenger flow and decreasing the need for gate agents to use the passenger address system. When the pilot program is done, officials will look at the program's effectiveness and determine which technology performed best.

Airport officials said full implementation of the scanning technology could take up to one year.