Anyone who has watched television in recent years is familiar with facial recognition when law enforcement “runs” a person’s image through their database to find a match and determine his or her identity. In case you thought it was pure fiction, think again because facial recognition is real and its use is becoming more and more widespread, despite growing privacy concerns. While we humans have always had the innate ability to distinguish differing facial features, our limited memories also limit the “database” from which we can compare to confirm someone’s identity. Now that ability to distinguish facial features may be compared exponentially against a nearly limitless database, thanks to the latest technology.
To be precise, a facial recognition system refers to an applied science which is capable of identifying or verifying a person either from a digital image or from a video source. There are a number of ways in which facial recognition systems function but in general terms, they work by comparing certain facial features from a given image with faces within a database. A Biometric Artificial Intelligence based application is another way to describe facial recognition in that it can uniquely identify a person by analyzing patterns based upon the person’s facial textures and shape. We see and use facial recognition every day in our late model smartphones as well as any number of apps that enable us to log in by simply looking at our screens, without having to remember distinct digital codes or passwords.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been working with airlines to implement facial recognition. They’re using biometric face scanners at certain airports to streamline the boarding process and as a way of improving efficiency when it comes to the manner in which travelers enter and exit the country. This is entirely separate from the iris and fingerprint scanning used by #Clear, a secure identity process available at more than 60 airports, stadiums and other venues across the nation. CLEAR is certified by the Department of Homeland Security.
Once you arrive at the airport, here’s how the process of facial recognition works. Cameras will take your photo, and then the CBP's Traveler Verification Service will match it to a photo the #DHSgov already possesses. These could be images from sources like your passport or other travel documents. This process will ideally replace the manual checking of passports nationwide. The CBP Supervisor at the #RDUAirport has informed me his agency has the largest database of identification images of any organization in the world. CBP routinely assists other governmental agencies around the globe in identifying individuals for law enforcement purposes.
Jerome Scott, senior counsel at the research firm known as the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and director of EPIC’s Domestic Surveillance Project says, “A form of biometric entry-exit was technically required for non-US citizens by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act singed into law in 1996. Scott also notes however, that the requirement wasn’t fully implemented. Then along came the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the Commission recommended complete implementation of biometric entry-exit scanning. However, it took President Donald Trump’s executive order of 2017 to expedite the full roll out. In a statement to #USATODAY, the CBP explained that American citizens have historically been processed at border check points in person but the facial recognition technology is being used because it “can do so with greater consistency and accuracy. CBP is simply replacing the current manual travel document comparison with facial recognition technology.”
As increasingly popular as the software has become in recent years, there is growing concern regarding the privacy, safety and the dearth of legislation surrounding its use. One of the main reasons for worry is the accuracy of the technology itself and questions about biases and misinformation. Multiple studies have shown that facial recognition technology is not entirely accurate at identifying people of color, particularly women. Another troublesome area is, believe it or not, the use of facial recognition for law enforcement purposes. Any number of police departments in the US, including those in big cities such as New York, Chicago, Detroit and Orlando, have already started to implement the technology. One report from May of 2018 indicated that the #FBI alone had access to approximately 412 million facial images in its database available for searches.
The potential exists, not only that someone could be misidentified and possibly wrongly convicted, but that the technology might be abused by law enforcement via constant public surveillance. Already the Chinese government routinely uses facial recognition to identify perpetrators of many petty crimes, even jaywalking. Most recently, the Hong Kong government tried to prohibit the wearing of face masks by democracy protestors so they might be identified with their facial recognition software. We in the West must ensure that accuracy and accountability are paramount as the use of this technology increases.
Not including #SouthwestAir, all the largest carriers in the US are moving forward to include facial recognition technology as an important component of their security processes. In the latter half of 2018 #Delta claimed that one of its terminals in #ATLAirport was the “first biometric terminal” in the nation. Effective December 1, all of their international passengers were able to take advantage of the biometric options when departing from Terminal F. They have since expanded their facial recognition boarding processes to another terminal as well as airports in Detroit, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City. Delta spokesperson Kathryn Steele reported that this technology replaces the traditional airport experience of showing your passport and boarding pass. Travelers board their aircraft after standing in front of a face scanner which verifies their identity. #United has been using the technology at some gates for international travelers at their hub cities of Houston, Washington Dulles and San Francisco. #AmericanAir has a test program in the works at #flyLAXairport in Terminal 4.
Eventually, boarding passes will go the way of paper tickets as usage of the technology continues to expand. Passengers can eventually expect to check in for all flights at the ticket counter and have their biometric identity confirmed. This process will repeat at the #TSA Security Checkpoint, and again when it comes time to board the aircraft. Privacy concerns notwithstanding, you can be sure that facial recognition will be coming to an airport near you.
Until next time…safe travels.
Pretty interesting stuff. There used to be a show on TV that used the same technology to stop crimes.
So I guess I will just have to stop walking around with the cheek retractors in place?...