Senators Introduce Legislation to End TSA's Facial Recognition Screening
The Traveler Privacy Protection Act aims to prevent the TSA from expanding its program and storing traveler's biodata, arguing that most Americans are unaware they can opt out of the screening.
- Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced legislation to repeal TSA authorization to use facial recognition screening at airports, aiming to prevent the TSA from 'further exploiting the technology and storing traveler’s biodata.'
- The proposed legislation, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act, would ban the TSA from expanding its program and require the agency to receive congressional authorization to use the technology in the future. It would also require the TSA to dispose of the facial biometrics.
- The senators argue that most Americans are unaware they can opt out of the screening, and that the TSA scans thousands of Americans' faces without their permission.
- The TSA has tested its pilot facial recognition program at 16 airports across the country, maintaining that the program is voluntary, but critics have raised concerns about the use of the technology and the data it could collect.
- Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) cosponsored the bill.
The Hill 
Forbes 
