New technology that confirms the validity of a traveller’s identification, along with their flight information, in real-time is now in use at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints at JFK International Airport.
This deployment is the latest generation of Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) to verify the identity of travellers. First generation CAT units are designed to scan a traveller’s photo identification, confirm the traveller’s identity as well as their flight details. The new CAT units, referred to as CAT-2, have the same capabilities, but are also equipped with a camera that captures a real-time photo of the traveller. CAT-2 compares the traveller’s photo on the ID against the in-person, real-time photo. Once the CAT-2 confirms the match, a TSA officer verifies and the traveller can proceed through the checkpoint, without ever exchanging a boarding pass. The photo is then deleted.
The CAT-2 units are equipped with cameras on tablets and are used to match the face of the person standing at the checkpoint with the face that appears on the traveller’s ID. The technology enhances detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent documents at the security checkpoint. The photos are not saved and are only used to match the person standing at the travel document checking podium with the photo on the ID that is being presented.
“Identity verification of every traveller prior to flying is a key step in the security screening process,” said John Essig, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “This technology enhances detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent IDs such as driver’s licenses and passports at a checkpoint and it increases efficiency by automatically verifying a passenger’s identification. We just want to ensure that you are who you say you are.”
As an additional feature, the unit is touchless meaning that the passengers insert their ID and do not have to hand it to a TSA officer, reducing touchpoints and speeding-up the process.
“This latest technology helps ensure that we know who is boarding flights,” said Essig. “Credential authentication plays an important role in passenger identity verification. It improves a TSA officer’s ability to validate a traveller’s photo identification while also identifying any inconsistencies associated with fraudulent travel documents.”
