CBP sets airport biometric target of 97 percent
The Department of Homeland Security has set an ambitious target of using facial recognition tech for 97% of all departing air travelers within four years.
The biometric tech first came online in 2017 and is now present at about 15 airports across the US.
The facial recognition system captures images of travelers faces at departure points and are cross-referenced with photos on file for each passenger.
These file photos come from visa and passport applications as well as pictures taken at customs and border protection checkpoints as travelers enter the country.
One of the main functions is to better monitor people who overstay their visa.
Officials say the facial recognition program has caught 7,000 passengers who overstayed their visas, but this is still only a fraction of estimated 600,000 overstayers each year.
Overstayers can be banned from entering the US for up to 10 years.
The biometric system has a match rate of 98%, according to the DHS’ 2018 Entry/Exit Overstay report.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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