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This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

KPCC Archive

Facial recognition piloted by TSA at LAX

File: A U.S. Customs and Border Protection facial recognition device is ready to scan another passenger at a United Airlines gate, Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, in Houston.
File: A U.S. Customs and Border Protection facial recognition device is ready to scan another passenger at a United Airlines gate, Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, in Houston.
(
David J. Phillip/AP
)

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New TSA security technology is being tested out at the Los Angeles International Airport. For the next few weeks, facial recognition e-gates and an advanced imaging body scanner will be piloted at the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Passengers who test out this new security equipment will be providing TSA with data that'll be assessed for security and efficiency.

Charles Pannunzio with Los Angeles World Airports explained why this technology is being tested at LAX.

"We are working with TSA as an Innovation Task Force site," Pannunzio said, "which means when they have some new technology that they want to see how it works in the field, they will deploy different types of equipment to see how it works — how it improves, hopefully, the passenger's journey."

Pannunzio said there are a handful of airports chosen for this type of testing. The TSA will determine when this new technology gets rolled out to airports permanently.

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