PORTLAND, Ore. — The next time you depart at Portland International Airport, the security process may look a little different — and not just because of the relocated security lines in the brand-new main terminal. The Transportation Security Administration is now using state-of-the art technology to verify identification.
Typically, a TSA officer would scan a traveler's photo ID and boarding pass, verifying all the information is correct before continuing through the security checkpoint.
Now, travelers will be asked to have their picture taken upon entering security with a new piece of technology, Credential Authentication Technology, also known as CAT-2. It takes a traveler's photo and compares it to the person's ID to confirm a match. A TSA officer verifies the information and whether that person is clear to fly — all without exchanging a boarding pass, TSA said. An officer can ask for additional passenger verification if needed.
TSA has been rolling out this technology at airports across the U.S.
"We are pleased to add this newest technology to our screening operation at PDX," said Kathleen McDonald, TSA Federal Security director for Oregon. "The next time you depart PDX, you will have the option of having your identity verified using facial matching technology."
Travelers can opt out of having their picture taken by informing a TSA officer. McDonald said the photos aren't stored anywhere or used for any other purpose other than verifying information.
The new technology is supposed to make it easier for TSA officers to authenticate photo ID and identify any fraudulent travel documents. An encounter at the Portland airport recently put the technology to the test.
In early October, a traveler using a fraudulent ID was caught at the Portland airport, TSA said. A traveler had initially told a TSA officer that they did not have a photo ID, before pulling one out of their pocket. The officer using the first-generation CAT technology, without the camera, noticed that a travelers ID "felt a little different." But it was the CAT that displayed an alert on-screen that there were inconsistencies with the ID and the traveler's airline reservation.
TSA confirmed that the ID was fraudulent and the traveler was not allowed into the security checkpoint, ultimately missing their flight. Port of Portland police were also called in to help.
“Identity verification is a cornerstone of TSA’s security process," McDonald said. "We will continue to ensure that travelers are who they say they are prior to allowing them to travel."