The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has unveiled new identity verification technology at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in Anchorage, Alaska, Alaskas News Source reports.
The updated system, known as Credential Authentication Technology (CAT), includes facial matching capabilities to enhance security screening and streamline the check-in process for travelers.
With the new system, travelers can expect to see CAT machines equipped with cameras that take real-time images. These images are then compared to the photo on the traveler’s identification, ensuring the person in front of the TSA officer matches the ID provided. According to TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers, this technology adds an extra layer of security by helping officers quickly verify a traveler’s identity.
“We can enhance the job TSA officers have been doing by providing them with technology that ensures the traveler is the same person on the photo ID, which has been vetted to confirm they don’t pose a security risk,” Dankers explained.
The use of the facial matching system is optional. Travelers can choose to opt out and undergo a lengthier identity verification process if they prefer not to have their photo taken. Dankers emphasized that any images captured by the CAT machines are used solely for immediate identity verification and are not stored or used for any other purpose.
One of the key advantages of the new technology is the speed and simplicity it brings to the security process. Travelers only need to present their photo ID to the machine, which will display both their flight and biographical information on the screen. This eliminates the need to present a boarding pass along with the identification, making the process more efficient.
“This is very streamlined and keeps the line moving,” Dankers said.
The facial matching cameras are highly accurate, with a 99.7% success rate, and are designed to adjust for changes in appearance, such as weight fluctuations or facial hair. The system is flexible, ensuring that travelers do not need to position themselves precisely in front of the camera for it to capture a usable image.
The introduction of the new technology in Anchorage is part of a broader rollout planned for airports across the country. TSA officers are undergoing extensive training, including six hours of classroom instruction and two hours of on-the-job training, to ensure they are fully prepared to operate the new machines.
“We’re excited that this technology has come to Alaska… Travelers will soon see it in Juneau as well,” Dankers said.
The TSA expects the new system to enhance both security and convenience for travelers, as similar machines are introduced nationwide.
