The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency has kicked off the testing phase for its updated departure data processing system at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to advance CBP’s biometric exit initiative.
CBP seeks to automate the way travelers’ images taken upon departure from the U.S. are compared with previously provided photos in order to evaluate the new facial comparison technology at Hartsfield-Jackson, CBP said Monday.
Travelers from age 14 through 79 departing for Japan through Sept. 30 will have their photos taken as they present their boarding pass.
CBP will store the digital images of travelers in its data systems and analyze the information after travelers have departed before the agency deletes the test data to protect the citizens’ privacy.
“Our goal remains to implement a biometric exit system that conforms with existing standard operating procedures so that the incorporation of biometrics has minimal impact to airlines, airports, and the traveling public,†said John Wagner, deputy executive assistant commissioner at CBP’s field operations office.
CBP Cabinet parent Department of Homeland Security plans to implement the biometric exit technology in 2018.
