WASHINGTON — Groups representing major U.S. airlines, travel companies and airports on Monday urged the Senate to reject a bill that would limit the ability of the Transportation Security Administration to use facial recognition software at security checkpoints.
The Senate Commerce Committee is set on Wednesday to consider bipartisan legislation to protect Americans’ ability to opt out of TSA facial recognition screenings at airports and prevent abuse of passenger data.
Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and others, along with U.S. Travel and two airport groups, opposed the bill in a letter seen by Reuters saying it could “increase wait times considerably by slowing down identity verification at every airport security checkpoint.”
Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley and Republican John Kennedy, two of the bill’s sponsors, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“The TSA subjects countless law-abiding Americans to excessive facial recognition screenings as they travel, invading passengers’ privacy without even making it clear that they can opt out of the screening,” Kennedy said in May.
Merkley said in May “folks don’t want a national surveillance state, but that’s exactly what the TSA’s unchecked expansion of facial recognition technology is leading us to.”
The bill would restrict TSA’s current authority to use biometrics and facial recognition technology. TSA would be required to provide passengers with the option to have their identity verified without use of facial recognition and prohibit TSA from subjecting travelers choosing not having their faces scanned to discriminatory treatment or less favorable screening conditions.
“Restricting TSA’s use of biometrics is a step backward for our national security,” the airlines and others said, adding it would “prevent TSA from achieving staffing efficiencies through technology automation by requiring officer-based interactions – forcing 75% of TSA’s budget to remain tied to staffing rather than technology investment.”
The airlines also said it could obstruct innovation in the aviation system like automated e-gates and TSA PreCheck Touchless ID and “create an overwhelming and chaotic environment at every airport security check.”
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