Recently, while flying out of Boston Logan International Airport, I experienced the new facial recognition technology being used at security checkpoints. After handing over my driver’s license, the TSA agent asked me to stand to the left and look at a camera. Within a second, he confirmed a match and allowed me to proceed. Now, this technology has arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport.

The Transportation Security Administration has introduced the new technology to verify the validity of a traveler’s identification and flight details in real-time. This latest generation of Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2) scans a traveler’s photo ID, confirms their identity and flight information, and captures a real-time photo using a camera.

Once a match is confirmed by CAT-2, the TSA officer can verify it, and the traveler can continue without showing a boarding pass. The photo taken is then deleted to protect privacy. This process enhances the detection of fraudulent IDs and increases efficiency in identifying passengers.

Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s federal security director for the airport, emphasized that the technology aims to ensure the identity of passengers and confirm their flight status for the day. The CAT-2 units are capable of authenticating various types of IDs, including passports, driver’s licenses, and military access cards.

Despite the deletion of photos, travelers uncomfortable with the process have the option to opt-out and undergo an alternative identity verification process. This new technology at Pittsburgh International Airport is part of ongoing efforts to enhance security and streamline the travel experience for passengers.