CBP Sign

Customs and Border Protection Plans to Expand Use of Facial Recognition in Global Entry Program

The agency says that the privacy risks to travelers will actually be lower with the facial scans, since they will no longer have to offer fingerprint data in order to enter the U.S.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Jan 23, 2020

While Customs and Border Protection has rescinded plans to expand mandatory facial recognition to all travelers entering and exiting the country, the agency is still focused on using the technology for one group of passengers: people enrolled in the Global Entry program.

The program allows “low risk” frequent travelers to bypass CBP officers and head to baggage claim immediately after visiting a Global Entry kiosk. Most of those kiosks scan passports and take fingerprints before allowing users to officially enter the U.S.

Now, according to Nextgov, the agency will offer Global Entry travelers the ability to use facial scans for clearance and eliminate the need for a fingerprint or passport scan. The agency has been piloting the technology since June 2018 and has expanded to several other airports, including three international airports.

In a Monday privacy impact statement, CBP said that the kiosks already have cameras to take photos of travelers that will be upgraded as the facial recognition program grows. Privacy notices will be added to the upgraded machines to inform Global Entry members of the process and the data they are agreeing to submit to the government.

Once the kiosk takes a photo, the image will be matched to a gallery from CBP’s systems containing passport and visa photos as well as Global Entry enrollment photos. From there, the kiosk images will be saved into the Department of Homeland Security’s IDENT biometric database, according to Nextgov’s reporting.

“When comparing photos for a facial recognition match, [the Traveler Verification Service] uses travel document photos as well as recently taken photos to improve accuracy because up to date photos may match better than document photos,” the privacy document states.

CBP claims that facial recognition usage will lower the privacy risks to travelers because the program already took photos at the kiosks and will no longer need fingerprint data to work.

A spokesperson told Nextgov that if there are technical issues with the facial recognition program, the kiosk will default to asking passengers for their passports and to conduct a fingerprint scan.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

  • Where AI Meets Human Judgment

    Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. It is driving business growth, shaping consumer experiences, and showing up in places most of us never imagined just a few years ago. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.