Facial recognition is now part of the security process at many U.S. airports, but travelers are not required to use it.
At Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints, the technology usually appears at the identity verification podium before passengers reach the bag screening area. Instead of only handing over an ID for a TSA officer to inspect, a traveler may be asked to place a driver’s license, passport, or other acceptable identification into a Credential Authentication Technology device. At some checkpoints, that device can also take a live photo of the traveler.
TSA says the system compares that live image with the photo on the traveler’s ID to help confirm that the person at the checkpoint matches the document presented. TSA describes this as facial comparison technology used for identity verification, and says the images are not used for law enforcement or surveillance.
Still, many travelers may not realize they have a choice. According to TSA, passengers may opt out of facial recognition and request an alternative identity verification process.
What The Facial Recognition Process Looks Like
At checkpoints using TSA’s newer identity verification machines, the process usually starts when a traveler reaches the document checking station. The traveler presents an ID, and the machine checks the document’s information. If facial comparison is active and the traveler does not opt out, the device takes a live image at the podium.
The system then compares that live photo with the image on the traveler’s government-issued ID. A TSA officer can review the result before allowing the traveler to continue to standard security screening. The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board’s 2025 report describes TSA’s checkpoint facial recognition system as a one-to-one matching system. That means it compares the live photo to the ID photo the traveler provided, instead of searching the person’s face across a broad public database.
TSA says the technology helps officers verify identity more efficiently. On its digital identity page, the agency states that its biometric cameras are used for identity verification and that photos and personal data are deleted after each transaction. The same page also notes that passengers can decline facial matching and use a standard identity verification process.
How To Opt Out At The TSA Checkpoint
The best time to opt out is before the camera takes your photo. When you reach the TSA podium, say clearly, “I would like to opt out of facial recognition,” or “I would like a manual ID check.” You do not need to give a long explanation. Keep your ID ready, because opting out of the photo does not exempt you from identity verification.
If the officer asks you to look into the camera, repeat that you want to opt out before positioning your face for the scan. If you have already handed over your ID, you can still say that you do not want facial recognition and would prefer manual verification. The TSA officer should then compare your face with your ID photo without using the live facial comparison step.
Travelers should also know that opting out does not remove them from the normal security process. You will still need to show acceptable identification, follow checkpoint instructions, and complete baggage and body screening. The opt-out applies to the facial recognition photo, not to airport security screening as a whole.
What To Expect After You Opt Out
Opting out should not prevent you from flying, and TSA policy says travelers may decline one-to-one facial matching without penalty or additional burdens. TSA’s public guidance says travelers can choose an alternative identity verification process, and the Algorithmic Justice League, a civil rights and technology advocacy group that has focused on airport face scans, highlights that travelers who opt out should not face additional consequences simply for declining facial recognition.
From there, the process should feel more like a standard ID check. The TSA officer may look more closely at your ID, compare it with your face, and continue the checkpoint process manually. If there is a problem with your ID or the officer cannot verify your identity, TSA may use additional procedures, as it can in any identity verification situation. That is separate from the act of opting out.
Privacy concerns remain part of the debate around airport facial recognition. The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board recommended in 2025 that TSA improve transparency, strengthen signage, assess staff compliance, and clarify privacy protections connected to facial recognition use. Those recommendations show why travelers may want clearer information before deciding whether to participate.
