The Transportation Security Administration is planning to roll out facial recognition technology in airports throughout the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security released a pilot program in 2017.  The “Credit Authentication Technology with Camera” program will scan travelers’ faces to match their photo identification.

According to the TSA website:

“During the proof of concept, TSA collects a live photograph of the passenger, passport number, known traveler number, transactional metadata (e.g., transaction ID, timestamps, quality scores), and the match results.”

The technology is currently being tested in 16 airports, but Jason Lim, who runs the program, says that the agency hopes to expand it across the United States as soon as next year.  Lim said that the facial recognition check will not be mandatory, but travelers will have to actively opt-out.

“None of this facial recognition technology is mandated,” Lim said. “Those who do not feel comfortable will still have to present their ID — but they can tell the officer that they do not want their photo taken, and the officer will turn off the live camera.”