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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 4 december 2019

DHS may require U.S. citizens be photographed at airports

The agency said privacy government has told the ready an insufficient prom-
risks "are mostly mitigat- public and Congress re- ise," Stanley said in a state-
ed." Photos used to match peatedly that American ment. "Travelers, including
Americans to their identities citizens would be exempt U.S. citizens, should not
are deleted within 12 hours, from mandatory biometric have to submit to invasive
according to the report. screening. biometric scans simply as
Jay Stanley, a policy ana- "This new notice suggests a condition of exercising
lyst for the American Civil that the government is re- their constitutional right to
Liberties Union, said the neging on what was al- travel."q

In this Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019, file photo, travelers walk
through a security checkpoint in Terminal 2 at Salt Lake City
International Airport, in Salt Lake City.
Associated Press

By DAVID KOENIG a 2017 audit by a federal
AP Airlines Writer watchdog agency found
DALLAS (AP) — Federal of- that few U.S. travelers ex-
ficials are considering re- ercised that right — barely
quiring that all travelers more than one per flight.
— including American citi- Federal law requires Home-
zens — be photographed land Security to put into
as they enter or leave the place a system to use bio-
country as part of an identi- metrics to confirm the iden-
fication system using facial- tity of international travel-
recognition technology. ers.
The Department of Home- Government officials have
land Security says it expects made no secret of their de-
to publish a proposed rule sire to expand the use of
next July. Officials did not biometrics, which they say
respond to requests for could identify potential ter-
more details. rorists and prevent fraudu-
Critics are already raising lent use of travel docu-
objections. ments.
Sen. Edward Markey, D- Homeland Security an-
Mass., said Tuesday he will nounced the possibility of
introduce legislation to expanding biometrics to
block the plan and pro- U.S. citizens in a recent,
hibit U.S. citizens from being brief filing. A spokesman for
forced to provide facial- U.S. Customs and Border
recognition information. He Protection, part of Home-
said a recent data breach land Security, said there
at Customs and Border Pro- would be a chance for the
tection shows that Home- public to comment on any
land Security can't be trust- change in regulations.
ed with the information. In a November 2018 report,
Facial recognition is being Homeland Security said fa-
tested by several airlines at cial recognition is the best
a number of U.S. airports. biometric approach at
American citizens are al- borders because it can be
lowed to opt out of being done quickly and "with a
photographed, although high degree of accuracy."