CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Niagara International Airport is upping its security with the Transportation Security Adminstration’s (TSA) new facial recognition technology.
On Thursday, the TSA rolled out the latest generation of Credential Authentication Technology (CAT). With voluntary participation from travelers, the CAT-2 systems scan IDs and take an immediately deleted picture of the traveler to verify their identity. Additionally, they’re a step forward in touchless technology.
The purpose of these systems is to help detect fraudulent documents at security checkpoints. Implementing them comes as the TSA anticipates record numbers of travelers at airport security checkpoints this summer travel season.
“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,” TSA Federal Security Director for Upstate New York. “We just want to ensure that you are who you say you are.”
This past Friday, May 24, the TSA said it set a record as more than 2.9 million people were screened at airport security checkpoints across the United States.
Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.