STOP THE SPREAD OF FACIAL RECOGNITION AT AIRPORTS

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has started using facial recognition technology in airports across the U.S., with plans to expand to over 400 airports.

We need to act now to stop the spread of this racist, discriminatory technology. Lawmakers have introduced the Travel Privacy Protection Act, a bill that would ban the use of facial recognition technology by the TSA and require the TSA to dispose of data already collected through this program. 

This legislation would be a huge step in protecting travelers privacy and resisting surveillance. It’s critically important that it is passed and put into effect quickly. 

In the current TSA program, the increasing use of biometric surveillance poses threats to civil rights and data privacy for all flyers. Facial recognition technology in airports received pushback from U.S. senators after a study published by the federal National Institute of Standards and Technology in 2019 found that Asian and African American people were up to 100 times more likely to be misidentified than White men, depending on the particular algorithm and type of search. U.S. airports have long been sites of racial profiling, targeted surveillance, and discrimination by government agencies. Facial recognition technology expands these capabilities. 

Facial recognition is not necessary to administer safe and efficient travel. People shouldn’t have to choose between travel and their privacy. 

Send a message to your lawmakers today to demand they support the Travel Privacy Protection Act. Help fight facial recognition in airports.

If your face has been scanned by TSA, check out the Algorithm Justice League’s #InPlaneSight campaign and share your experience.