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New Security Procedures Coming/in Effect When leaving The United States?

For the past few years I have been traveling to Europe two or three times a year on holiday. Earlier this month, while traveling from Seattle to Frankfurt on Lufthansa, I experienced something new. While waiting in line to board I noticed two uniformed officers, with portable floor mounted cameras, stationed immediately before the gate agent where you have your ticket scanned before entering the jet way. Passengers, me included, were requested (required?) to stand with your toes on the line (drawn on the floor) and have your photo taken. After the photo was taken either a green light or a red light flashed. I observed that after most passenger photos were taken the green light flashed. A couple of times I did see the red light flash, although those passengers were allowed to continue boarding normally, with no additional measures taken. It was done very quickly and did not seem to delay the boarding process.

I am assuming that passenger gate photos were being matched up with passport photos for security/tracking purposes. Since the “red light” passengers continued boarding the same as everyone else I imagine that they are in a testing phase. Unfortunately I was so interested watching the process I failed to notice the officer’s affiliation.

Has anyone else observed this or can shed any additional information as to why passenger photos were being taken/used?

Posted by
2709 posts

Here's my question on this: Will we have to remove hats and especially eyeglasses for this if this becomes boarding procedure? It is one thing to do this while standing in front of the camera at the Passport Kiosk on entry. Having to be temporarily poorly-sighted and manage holding one's glasses while in a line that can be jostling you is a different story.

Posted by
14810 posts

It is the facial recognition testing. It wants to keep track of visitors leaving the country.

Some countries alread do this. When entering the UK using the electronic gates, your photo is taken and matched against one on file. With Registered Traveler, I can use the gates and it matches my photo to my passport photo on file. (I'm guessing it can access the U.S. passport database or my photo may have been taken when I was processed for Registered Traveler. I don't remember.)

The UK also takes photos of departing passengers to some destinations.

The problem will be if someome grows a beard or mustache and gains/loses a lot of weight and their appearance changes.

Right now those with Global Entry must give their fingerprints on the screen when entering the U.S. TSA may try to use facial recognition or fingerprints to make sure the person in the PreCheck line is actually the person on their documents.

I'm sure there will be discussions about privacy issues regarding U.S. citizens.

Posted by
330 posts

This happened to me last September when traveling from Sacramento to Montreal, Canada, on my layover at JFK. The red light flashed, but I was allowed to go through. I think the red light flashed because my passport photo has me with long, brown hair and currently I have short, natural (silver) hair.

Posted by
5471 posts

But why are we doing this? To reach the boarding gate, you've already gone through TSA's security process.

TSA screening includes both domestic and international travelers. If they are trying to see who is leaving the country, it needs to be done later. Unlike the schengen countries, we don’t have separate international gates and passport control on departure.

Posted by
195 posts

Thank you for the interesting information, Davey. This is similar to my experience at Universal Studios - some of the rides had a camera system like this.

Posted by
891 posts

I have seen this tested in the USA by US Customs on flight from IAH to AMs. I would expect that sooner or later most countries will go to using facial recognition software, if they have not already.

Posted by
564 posts

It’s all part of the move to use facial recognition, domestically and aboard.

Posted by
3809 posts

In Atlanta, the international gates in the F concourse are now equipped with cameras. Your face is your boarding pass!