A group of bipartisan senators is urging Congress to limit the use of facial recognition technology by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) due to privacy and civil liberties concerns. In a letter, 14 lawmakers called on Senate leaders to restrict TSA’s use of this technology during the upcoming reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The senators emphasized the need for congressional oversight to ensure that TSA’s development and deployment of facial recognition tools are adequately monitored.
Led by Senators Jeff Merkley, John Kennedy, and Roger Marshall, the initiative seeks to stop the use of facial recognition technology at security checkpoints despite its proven benefits in enhancing security, efficiency, and the passenger experience. Currently operational at 84 airports nationwide, the technology is set to expand further to approximately 430 facilities under TSA jurisdiction in the near future.
The upcoming reauthorization of FAA presents a crucial legislative opportunity given that it is one of the final essential bills in this congressional session. With oversight over airlines, aircraft makers, and national airspace, FAA plays a pivotal regulatory role in aviation sector. However, concerns have been raised about data collection, access to data, security vulnerabilities in case of breach and potential biases in facial recognition algorithms. Privacy advocates also worry about passengers being unaware of their right to opt out of facial recognition scans.
In light of these issues, Senators Merkley et al., are calling for a halt to TSA’s plans for expanding facial recognition use with limited public discussion or congressional scrutiny. They believe that strong oversight is necessary to prevent unchecked growth of government surveillance through this technology.
