This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
New facial recognition technology at Washington, DC’s Dulles Airport (IAD) stopped an impostor attempting to get through the immigration checkpoint with a fake passport, officials said Thursday.
The man was taken into custody in a first-of-its kind arrest in which a biometric facial recognition system detected and stopped passport fraud.
His authentic-looking but fraudulent document probably would have passed muster under solely human judgment, federal authorities noted. The facial recognition system was implemented at the airport on Monday and stopped the imposter on its third day of use.
Officials said the fraudster was a 26-year-old man who landed at IAD on Wednesday after a flight from Sao Paolo, Brazil (GRU). He presented a French passport at Dulles’ customs checkpoint. After using the biometric facial comparison program, the immigration officer determined that the man’s face did not match the picture on the passport he claimed was legit, US Customs and Border Protection said.
Agents flagged the man for a secondary screening, during which officials said the man became visibly nervous. Customs officers searched the man and found an identification card from the Republic of Congo hidden in his shoe.
Dulles is one of 14 airports that began testing the technology on Monday. The facial scanners use an algorithm to match biometric markers of travelers’ faces to pictures on their passports, visa or other identifying travel documents. Officials say the systems are 99% accurate. The technology is popping up at airports around the world. Singapore’s Changi Airport (SIN) is testing the biometric technology and will install it throughout its terminals in about a year. Airport representatives say that the tech could help replace passengers’ passports and even scan the terminal to find flyers who are about to miss their plane.
Even the Transportation Security Administration says facial scanners might one day replace boarding passes. “CBP is assessing the use of biometric technology as part of a future end-to-end process, from check-in to departure, in which travelers use biometrics instead of their boarding pass or ID throughout the security and boarding processes,” US federal customs officials said. One TSA checkpoint at New York’s JFK Airport is testing out facial recognition tech.
US Customs and Border Protection told TPG that biometric technology can process passengers in 7-10 seconds instead of 1-2 minutes — a difference that will really add up for long passport check lines or other swamped security checkpoints.
Airlines are already beginning to use facial recognition to board planes. Lufthansa used it earlier this year to board an A380 in 20 minutes. And Marriott debuted a feature this summer that lets guests check-in to some of its hotels using only their faces.
Featured image by Ian Waldie/Getty Images.
Know before you go.
News and deals straight to your inbox every day.
NEW INCREASED OFFER: 60,000 points! With great travel benefits, 2x points on travel & dining and a 60,000 point sign up bonus worth up to $1,200 in value, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great card for those looking to get into the points and miles game. Here are the top 5 reasons it should be in your wallet, or read our definitive review for more details.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Chase Sapphire Preferred named "Best Credit Card for Flexible Travel Redemption" - Kiplinger's Personal Finance, June 2018
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
- No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
