US senators have proposed banning facial recognition at airports

US Senators John Kennedy and Jeff Merkley have introduced a bill to end forced biometric identification of passengers at the country's airports. The initiative was supported by colleagues from both parties.

Here's What We Know

The Traveller Privacy Protection Act would prohibit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from using facial recognition technology and require it to destroy all biometric data collected from citizens within three months. Congressional approval would be required to renew the programme.

According to the authors, such practices are the first step toward total surveillance and violate the values of privacy and freedom. Merkley called the TSA's actions an Orwellian nightmare.

Flashback

The facial scanning programme has been implemented at US airports since 2018 under the guise of an innovative service. However, the TSA does not inform people of the option to opt out of the procedure. Agents are effectively forcing passengers to undergo the scan without providing alternatives.

Human rights organisations ACLU and EPIC have also called for the bill to be passed as the technology poses serious risks to data privacy and potential discrimination.

Source: Engadget