AST June 2018 Magazine Volume 24 | Page 46

Volume 24 June 2018 Edition ADDRESSING CONCERNS While biometrics and other technologies offer great promise toward addressing resource constraints and creating a bet- ter and more secure passenger experi- ence, widespread adoption will only be achieved once concerns around privacy and cost are successfully addressed. + Identity Association (IBIA) entitled ‘Setting the Record Straight on Face Scans in Biometric Exit’ noted that Biometric Exit is essential for security and immigration and fully complies with US Federal law. They state that the pilots have been technically sound, using technologies in use worldwide. They also stress that the pilots are not a mission creep towards government surveillance, that they will not increase access to sensitive data by private entities – such as airlines, airports and technology companies – and that the technology As a result, early adopters trialing biometric tech- has been proven internationally and by CBP. nology (such as the JetBlue initiative detailed above) have seen very high rates of voluntary par- Finally, IBIA noted a recent survey by IATA in which the traveling public globally expressed their strong ticipation by passengers. support for biometrics and other technologies that A 2017 report from the International Biometrics make air travel easier. 44 Airports, airlines, governments and technolo- gy companies are building safeguards to bal- ance privacy with security while improving the passenger experience.