The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has recently implemented the new Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) at Norfolk International Airport in order to enhance the security screening process at airport checkpoints. This technology is designed to validate the identity of travellers and confirm their flight details in real time.
The latest iteration of CAT, known as CAT-2, represents a significant advancement from its predecessors. These new CAT-2 units not only scan a traveller’s photo identification and confirm their identity and flight details, but also incorporate a camera that captures a real-time photo of the traveller. This allows for a comparison between the photo on the ID and the real-time photo of the traveller, thereby enhancing capabilities for identifying fraudulent documents at the security checkpoint.
According to Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport, “Identity verification of every traveller prior to flying is a critical step in the security screening process. This technology augments capabilities for identifying fraudulent IDs at a checkpoint and increases efficiency by automatically verifying a passenger’s identification. Our aim is simply to ensure that you are indeed who you claim to be.”
The CAT-2 units are furnished with cameras on tablets, which are used to match the face of the individual at the checkpoint with the face on the traveller’s ID. It is important to note that the photos captured by these units are not stored and are only used for immediate identity verification. Furthermore, the units are touchless, meaning that passengers insert their ID without having to hand it to a TSA officer, thereby reducing touchpoints and expediting the identification process.
The CAT-2 units are programmed with a “library” of IDs, allowing them to authenticate more than 2,500 different types of IDs including passports, military common access cards, Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler ID cards, uniformed services ID cards, permanent resident cards, U.S. visas, driver’s licenses, and photo IDs issued by state motor vehicle departments.
Jeffrey Horowitz, TSA’s Assistant Federal Security Director at the airport, elucidated, “This latest technology helps ensure that we know who is boarding flights. Credential authentication plays an integral role in passenger identity verification. It enhances a TSA officer’s ability to authenticate a traveller’s photo identification while also identifying any inconsistencies associated with fraudulent travel documents.”
It is noteworthy that travellers are still required to check in with their airline in advance and bring their boarding pass to their gate to show the airline representative before boarding their flight, despite the use of CAT-2 units.
The implementation of this new technology at Norfolk International Airport signifies a notable stride in augmenting security screening capabilities and enhancing the efficiency of the airport checkpoint process. The CAT-2 units not only contribute to the detection of fraudulent documents but also permit touchless and rapid identification of travellers, ensuring a smoother and more secure screening process for all passengers.
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