The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that it will assess biometric checkpoint screening technology at one PreCheck lane at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and one at Denver International, beginning this week.The agency said it is conducting a proof of concept demonstration to evaluate the operational and security impact of using biometrics to verify passengers' identities using their fingerprints.The biometric authentication technology enables a traveler's fingerprints to serve as both a boarding pass and identity document. The technology matches passenger fingerprints provided at the checkpoint to those that previously were provided to TSA by travelers when they enrolled in PreCheck.Once the technology finds a fingerprint match, it is able to obtain the passenger's boarding pass information through Secure Flight, according to the announcement. Participation is voluntary and all passengers who choose to participate still will be subject to the standard ticket document checking process of showing their boarding pass and identification document.”TSA looks at technologies and intelligence capabilities that allow us to analyze and secure the travel environment, passengers and their property,” said TSA Acting Assistant Administrator Steve Karoly. “Through these and other technology demonstrations, we are looking to reinvent and enhance security effectiveness to meet the evolving threat and ensure that passengers get to their destinations safely.”TSA said it will analyze the data collected during the pilot for potential implementation at other U.S. airports in the future.
TSA launches biometric tech appraisal
