You Can Opt Out of TSA Facial Recognition

Oh the airport! So tiring. Take off your shoes. Take out your electronics. Take out your liquids. Ugh!. Of course before you ever get to that point you are asked to take a picture. Why? What do they need picture with your face if they have your id? And do you really have to let them take your picture? That picture is for the facial recognition system employed by TSA. Let’s chat.

What is facial recognition technology?

Facial recognition is a process by which a person’s identity if verified by matching their current picture to either a database of pictures or the picture on their ID. While there are other methods to achieve facial recognition, most current forms rely on AI. With the vast amounts of data we have, AI is simpler to implement and tends to have better accuracy than older algorithms.

In my last post we talked about the Real ID. The new rules around IDs, particularly for flying, may be needed to interact with this facial recognition technology.

Why do we to take a picture at the TSA screening checkpoint?

The TSA says they use facial recognition technology for just identification purposes. They want to make sure the person in front of them is who they say they are. Using technology makes the process faster. TSA insists that they do not save the pictures they take once a positive ID has been made (except for rare testing scenarios).

What if I don’t want to get my picture taken?

Well, then you do not have to get your picture taken if you don’t want. The facial recognition step is optional. You just have to let the TSA agent know you want to opt out of facial recognition. There won’t be a more difficult process if you opt out, and you won’t have to leave the line. The TSA agent will simply check your ID manually.

Based on my experience, if you want to opt out you want to let the TSA agent know this immediately. I don’t suggest putting your ID in the machine first and then asking to opt out. The TSA agents tend to get annoyed as they have to restart the process. I have found the agents to be quite agreeable if I make sure to let them know up front that I want to opt out.