As the TSA adds more and more Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) units to the country’s airports, it means fewer and fewer people have to show their boarding passes to TSA officers.
How CAT scanners changed the checkpoint
Typically, you give the TSA officer your ID, which they scan into the CAT unit. The new scanners can verify whether a traveler’s ID is expired or authentic (well, except for the glitch with these driver’s licenses, but they finally fixed it! Well, mostly). They’re also electronically linked to the TSA’s Secure Database, which lets the TSA officer know about the traveler’s flight details, ensuring that their flight ticket is scheduled for that day (that’s why you don’t have to show your boarding pass anymore).
The CAT units can also see the type of screening a traveler is eligible for. So if they’re in the TSA PreCheck lane but don’t actually have PreCheck (granted, the screener at the entry should have caught that), the TSA officer won’t let them proceed.
It’s a nice convenience, but it also raises the question of what the TSA officer actually sees when they scan your ID.
What TSA sees when they scan your ID
Photography isn’t allowed in the screening area, but if you hunt around, you can find a photo or two, made accessible by the TSA, of what officers see after they swipe your driver’s license or other ID. Here’s what it looks like:
Of course, that picture is of an intentionally fake ID. If it’s a real ID (as opposed to Real ID—see what I did there?), the pink ID window would typically say “Normal” (if it was good to go) and the “boarding pass” window would be yellow and say TSA PreCheck, BP Check (for a random boarding pass check), etc.
CAT-2 adds facial matching (and you can opt out)
Meanwhile, before they’ve even completed introducing CAT to all U.S. airports, the TSA is already introducing new technology.
Called CAT-2, the new tech “enhances detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent IDs such as driver’s licenses and passports at a checkpoint and increases efficiency by automatically verifying a passenger’s identification,” Christopher Murgia, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Maryland, said in a recent TSA press release. “This helps ensure that we know who is boarding flights.”
With CAT-2, the unit takes your photo and compares it to the face on your ID. TSA spokesperson Lisa Farstein explained how it works:
.@BWI_Airport has @TSA credential authentication technology units with a camera at all of its checkpoint lanes. The units have a camera to match the individual’s face with the face that appears on the traveler’s ID such as the person’s license or passport. (1 of 3) pic.twitter.com/tk3VU4Rf4H
— TSA Northeast (@TSA_Northeast) April 27, 2023
Farstein added:
The technology enhances detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent documents at the security checkpoint. The photos are not saved and are only used to match the person standing at the travel document checking podium with the photo on the ID that is being presented. (2 of 3)
It’s a self-serve unit that reduces touchpoints: insert the ID—no handing a boarding pass or ID to a TSA officer. The benefits include improved efficiency, convenience for travelers, and enhanced security. (3 of 3)
That was not good news for this lady, huh?
According to the Dep’t of Homeland Security, the procedure for CAT-2 is as follows:
- Passenger presents digital ID at the TDC (read: Travel Document Checkpoint) to engage CAT-2 to prompt the use of the digital ID.
- The passenger’s device prompts the passenger to provide consent to securely transmit the requested data (i.e., name, gender, date of birth, and photo) to TSA. The digital ID is submitted to CAT-2.
- CAT-2 takes a live picture of the passenger for a 1:1 match against the portrait image from the digital ID.
- CAT-2 verifies biometric match, Secure Flight Vetting status (read: TSA PreCheck or other status), ID authentication, and itinerary information by verifying the digital ID is from the correct issuing authority (read: they can tell if you have fake ID).
- CAT-2 confirms passenger identity, and TSO directs the passenger to the appropriate screening lane or manually resolves in the event of a no-match outcome.
And if you don’t want your picture taken, TSA can and will still do a standard ID check, same as always.
Portable CAT-2 Unit // PC: TSA
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