New expertise that confirms the validity of a traveler’s identification (ID) and confirms their flight info in actual time is now in use on the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) safety checkpoint at Lehigh Valley Worldwide Airport.
This deployment is the newest technology of Credential Authentication Expertise (CAT) to confirm the identification of vacationers. First technology CAT items are designed to scan a traveler’s photograph identification, verify the traveler’s identification in addition to their flight particulars. The brand new CAT items, known as CAT-2, have the identical capabilities, however are additionally geared up with a digital camera that captures a real-time photograph of the traveler.
CAT-2 compares the traveler’s photograph on the ID towards the in-person, real-time photograph. As soon as the CAT-2 confirms the match, a TSA officer verifies, and the traveler can proceed by means of the checkpoint, with out ever exchanging a boarding go. The photograph is then deleted.
The brand new items even have the aptitude to verify whether or not a driver’s license is REAL ID compliant. This function is particularly essential because the REAL ID enforcement date is simply eight days away—on Might 7.
The CAT-2 items are geared up with cameras on tablets and are used to match the face of the individual standing on the checkpoint with the face that seems on the traveler’s ID such because the individual’s driver’s license or passport. The expertise enhances detection capabilities for figuring out fraudulent paperwork on the safety checkpoint. The pictures will not be saved and are solely used to match the individual standing on the journey doc checking podium with the photograph on the ID that’s being offered.
“Identification verification of each traveler previous to flying is a key step within the safety screening course of,” stated Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Safety Director for Pennsylvania and Delaware. “This expertise enhances detection capabilities for figuring out fraudulent IDs resembling driver’s licenses and passports at a checkpoint and it will increase effectivity by routinely verifying a passenger’s identification. We simply need to guarantee that you’re who you say you might be.”
Vacationers hand their ID to the TSA officer, have a look at the digital camera and if the ID is validated, the traveler then proceeds into the checkpoint. Even with TSA’s use of those items, vacationers nonetheless have to check-in with their airline prematurely and produce their boarding go to their gate to indicate the airline consultant earlier than boarding their flight.
“This newest expertise helps make sure that we all know who’s boarding flights,” Spero stated. “Credential authentication performs an essential position in passenger identification verification. It improves a TSA officer’s potential to validate a traveler’s photograph identification whereas additionally figuring out any inconsistencies related to fraudulent journey paperwork.”
The system additionally confirms the passenger’s flight standing by verifying that the person is ticketed to fly out of an airport on that very same day.
CAT-2 items have what’s known as a “library” of IDs programed into them that permit the expertise to authenticate greater than 2,500 several types of IDs together with passports, army frequent entry playing cards, Division of Homeland Safety Trusted Traveler ID playing cards, uniformed companies ID playing cards, everlasting resident playing cards, U.S. visas and driver’s licenses and photograph IDs issued by state motorcar departments. There are presently greater than 800 of those items in use at airports throughout the nation with extra being deployed usually.
Images captured by CAT-2 items are by no means saved or used for some other objective than fast identification verification. Vacationers who don’t want to take part within the facial matching course of can choose out in favor of an alternate identification verification course of.
The unique announcement may be discovered here.
