As Americans get more comfortable traveling during the Pandemic, international travelers may find a new identification system used by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. The C.B.P. started ramping up the technology in the program called Simplified Arrival in order to increase border security. The agency selected facial recognition, which uses a computer to compare a picture taken in person at airport immigration or another border checkpoint to the traveler's passport picture or visa, among other measures.
The deputy executive assistant commissioner for C.B.P. said that they have automated a manual process.
Privacy advocates are questioning the use of technology. In order to ensure that flagged individuals are treated in a safe, fair and non-discriminatory manner, Senators Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri, and Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon, sent a letter to the agency in January.
The following are excerpts from an interview that was edited for length and clarity.
We landed with facial because it was such a simple process when we looked at different technology. Travelers pose for a photo with their documentation. The officer has the data they need based on a discussion with the traveler about the purpose of the trip and can make a decision about whether further examination is needed. Technology is better at making comparisons. The ultimate decision maker is the officer. Travelers have the option to opt out.
A streamlined process is what it is. Helping officers determine the intent of travel is one benefit. It is also better at identifying potential impostors. Adding health benefits was the third piece we hadn't considered. We have a security enhancement at a time and place where individuals are expected to present themselves for identity verification, and now we are adding touchless travel and limiting the spread of pathogens. It wasn't something we were thinking about when we developed it, but it made sense.
Depending on environmental factors, manual verification lasts 10 to 30 seconds. The lighting at the land border could make someone more challenged. We are taking two to three seconds to verify the match. One tool in the process is the match. It doesn't make the decision to admit or require further examination. The totality of the circumstances is the officer. Security is the priority.
In the first three years after deployment, we have identified about 300 impostors using the technology. That doesn't mean we wouldn't have identified them. In the last year, it caught between 1,000 and 1,100 at the southern land border.
Identifying individuals at a time and place where they would normally expect to present themselves for identity verification is our business use case. We are not using social media to take pictures. We have a repository that we can use to build galleries for people who have applied for visas and have U.S. passport photos. We build these galleries in the airport and maritime environments based on information already provided for identity verification. We match the information we have with it.
We are making sure that there is secure encryption. When a gallery is created, the photo isn't attached to any information and can't be reverse engineered to be compromised. The design was based on the privacy measures we had in place. Images for U.S. citizens are often less than 12 hours.
That is something we are very focused into. The program is provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. When it comes to demographic differences, our high-performing programs show no difference.
Looking ahead. The travel industry hopes this will be the year that travel comes roaring back after governments loosen coronaviruses. What to expect.
There is lodging. Travelers discovered the privacy offered by rental residences. They hope to compete by offering stylish extended-stay properties, sustainable options, rooftop bars and co-working spaces.
Rental cars. Travelers can expect higher prices and older cars with high mileage since companies still haven't been able to expand their fleets. Are you looking for an alternative? Car-sharing platforms might be more affordable.
Cruises. Demand for cruises remains high despite a bumpy start to the year. Because they sail on smaller ships and steer away from crowded destinations, luxury expedition voyages are particularly appealing right now.
There are destinations. Travelers are eager to visit a city like Paris or New York. Some resorts in the U.S. are experimenting with an almost all-inclusive model that takes the guess work out of planning a vacation.
Experiences. Sexy travel options include couples retreats and beachfront sessions with intimacy coaches. Trips with an educational bent are becoming more popular with families with children.
We post at all ports of entry. The officer needs to be notified when individuals opt out. It would go back to the manual process.
At land borders, it has been rolled out in pedestrian lanes. In the air environment, we're covering about 99 percent. The final frontier is the land border. We just completed a 120-day pilot in the car lanes in Texas and will be evaluating the outcome. We are in the 90 percent range at cruise terminals. We work with nine major carriers at eight ports of entry in Florida.
Privacy advocacy groups are welcome to scrutinize them. We want to be able to tell the story about the investment we have made. There are a lot of myths about what we do with the internet. There are always legitimate concerns when new technology is introduced. Those questions are welcome. When we are building out these systems, they help us answer better.
The Frugal Traveler column is written by Elaine Glusac. You can follow her on social media.
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