Yes. Currently, all passengers must continue to have physical IDs on hand. If a digital ID cannot be verified at the TSA security checkpoint, a passenger must use an acceptable physical identity document (e.g., driver’s license, passport) for identity verification.

Yes. TSA is committed to protecting passenger privacy. Under normal operating conditions TSA facial recognition technology deletes traveler data and images immediately after your identity is verified. If you use TSA PreCheck® Touchless Identity Solution, your information is deleted 24 hours after your scheduled departure time. 

In rare instances TSA will collect and temporarily retain photos and data to test the accuracy of TSA’s facial recognition technology. These data collection mode events are limited in time and place and begin with passenger notification signs. If you decline to participate you will receive standard identity verification and will not lose your place in line. 

We secure all personal data and images used or temporarily stored by our facial recognition technology. Additionally, all of TSA’s facial recognition technologies adhere to DHS and TSA cybersecurity requirements.

TSA’s use of biometric solutions is based on rigorous scientific study and analysis. We are aware of a variety of public concerns related to the accuracy of facial recognition and other biometric technologies and take those concerns seriously. We study biometric solutions in both laboratories and operational environments to identify and mitigate performance issues. Accuracy and equity in biometric system performance are key issues for TSA and travelers alike. TSA works closely and regularly with external stakeholders to provide timely and detailed updates on our facial recognition technologies and the benefits they provide to secure and convenient travel.

Facial recognition technology and digital IDs  improve the performance and security of TSA operations by increasing the accuracy and reliability of passenger identity verification. Facial recognition technology automates part of the current manual procedures and allows professional screening personnel to leverage their training and experience to focus more on alarms and error resolution.

No. TSA is using facial recognition technology at the airport to improve and automate identity verification of passengers, not for law enforcement or immigration enforcement purposes. Additionally, TSA does not tolerate racial profiling. Profiling is not an effective way to perform security screening. TSA personnel are trained to treat every passenger with dignity and respect.

If TSA is unable to obtain a match through facial recognition technology, the TSA officer will use standard passenger identity verification procedures.

TSA prioritizes the health and safety of our officers and the traveling public. 

Some of our Travel Document Checker positions offer travelers the ability to insert their own ID cards and passports into readers. Personal devices with digital IDs and mobile driver’s licenses should always be presented by the traveler and should never be handled by the TSA officer.

Some of our Travel Document Checker positions also have Plexiglas panels to retard the airflow between travelers and officers. 

TSA PreCheck® Touchless Identity Solution, currently in operational assessment, eliminates the need for travelers to present a passport, ID card, or personal device with a digital ID. Instead, the traveler volunteers to allow TSA to match their live photo with a stored photo from a passport or other source document. (Travelers should always carry a physical form of acceptable ID.) For travelers opting in to TSA PreCheck Touchless Identity Solution, their face is their ID. 

Consistent with the DHS Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPPs), TSA retains personally identifiable information (PII) only for as long as is necessary to fulfill the specified purpose(s) of  testing the accuracy of facial recognition technology. DHS FIPPs and TSA’s PIAs provide guidance on matters such as transparency, specific use limitations, data minimization, and purpose specification for our facial recognition technology. Additional information on data protection procedures for each test is available in TSA’s PIAs. In short, TSA informs the traveler in advance of data collection, securely transits the data and images for testing, then deletes the data.