And if a face was both boarding pass and passport ? That's the promise of facial recognition applied to air transport. This system biometric simply consists of matching the photo of an identity document with the face of the traveller captured as they pass by. Average operating time : six seconds. All stages of the screening process could be automated, from entry to the airport to boarding, check-in and border control.
Facial recognition is part of the digital strategy for airports and airlines aimed at improving the passenger experience while reducing journey times within major hubs. For Sergio Colella, President Europe of SITAThis streamlining of all the control stages is the prerequisite for sine qua non to absorb the exponential growth in passenger numbers. "From four billion in 2018, the number of travellers is expected to double in 2035he points out. At best, the infrastructure will only be able to grow by 5 %."Another advantage is that biometric screening increases aircraft utilisation rates. The boarding time for an Airbus A350 has been cut from 45 to 30 minutes. Last but not leastthe facial recognition system would be more reliable than the human eye.
77 % of airports and 71 % of airlines plan to develop major projects for identity control using biometrics.
These arguments are proving popular with the air transport industry. According to the Air Transport IT Insights 2018 report SITA, 77 % of airports and 71 % of airlines plan to develop major projects or R&D programmes for identity control over the next few years. biometrics. From three major technologies In this respect, facial recognition is clearly in the lead, notes Sergio Colella. "Digital recognition has police connotations and can pose health problems. Recognition by theiris is extremely expensive." As a result, according to the same SITA study, 59 % airports and 63 % carriers are planning to deploy this technology within three years. SITA, for example, has equipped the international airport ofAthens on behalf of Aegean Airlines, and is in discussions on around ten projects.
A growing number of airlines and airports are experimenting with facial recognition on a few routes, as is the case with the association between the airport of Miami and Lufthansa or between Boston and JetBlue, which have been given the green light by US Customs and Border Protection. "If we want to do 'end to end' and automate all the control stages, we need the agreement of the local authorities."adds Sergio Colella. According to SITA's Passenger IT Insights 2019 study, passengers are more satisfied with facial recognition than with traditional checks.
Like all biometric devices, facial recognition raises questions about the safety of the system. data confidentiality and respect for privacy. In early June, three American NGOs - Fight for the Future, Demand Progress and Credo - launched the AirlinePrivacy.com website, advising travellers against using airlines that use facial recognition. They are also inviting people to put pressure on these airlines via Twitter. Their blacklist includes Delta, American Airlines, British Airways, JetBlue and Lufthansa.
According to the group, the biometric data of American citizens is stored for a minimum of 12 hours, while the "face" of other nationals is stored for a minimum of 10 hours. stored for life by the Department of Homeland Security. On the other side of the Atlantic, this initiative is part of the anti-facial recognition movement more global. In May, San Francisco became the first American city to prohibit the use of this technology for the surveillance of its territory and the shareholders ofAmazon have put pressure on the digital giant to stop selling this type of service to law enforcement agencies.
With 176 million connected surveillance cameras, China makes no secret of the fact that it makes extensive use of biometrics to monitor its population.
The serious abuses at work in China, where facial recognition is used both to pay by mobile phone and to gain access to transport - train, metro, plane, etc. - are acting as a deterrent. With some 176 million connected surveillance camerasThe Middle Kingdom is making no secret of the fact that it makes extensive use of biometrics to monitor its population. Beijing plans to deploy 2020a vast rating system of its citizens, where each offence would reduce their "social creditThis compromises their access to certain jobs or public services.
The operators are reassuring. While Air France is experimenting with this biometric system for baggage drop-off, Carole Peytavin, Customer Experience Director, says that the "matching" retenu does not collect any personal data and does not access any databases: "It simply consists of comparing the photo of an identity document with the face of the traveller captured as they pass through, in order to reconcile the two.."
No data retained
The same applies to SITA. Its solution Smart Path works with an electronic token system that brings together the boarding pass, the identity document and the passenger's face. "The data is not stored. They are only kept for the duration of the passenger's journey.says Sergio Colella. After that, the local legal framework applies. Standards and rules vary widely from one country to another.." Within the European Union, the RGPD requires prior consent from the traveller. As facial recognition is set to become a standard standard within three yearsAccording to Sergio Colella, technology also needs to be standardised. "The hardware may come from different suppliers. On the other hand, the software layer and its integration must guarantee the same reliability and the same assurance of data protection, regardless of the equipment and regardless of the site.." Reusing existing investments means ensuring that they are interoperable. At its last congress in Seoulthe International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicated that it was working towards this standardisation with its One ID concept.
Finally, according to the head of SITA, facial recognition could be combined with the technology of the blockchain : "This digital register forgery-proof will guarantee the integrity and quality of passenger data, while enabling the identity of each passenger to be checked. Those who share this information in real time will be assured of its accuracy.." SITA has developed its own blockchain, Flightchainand a sandbox to enable the industry to begin validating this approach.
Concern for safety must not undermine our freedoms
Over and above this technical safeguard, Robert Corcos, a partner at FTPA, calls for vigilance.In the absence of a definitive legislative framework, the risk of drift is possible. Facial recognition can start with a limited use and be extended to other fields. Security concerns must not undermine our freedoms." The legal expert recalls the principle of proportionality laid down by the Cnil : "The use we make of biometric technology must be proportionate to the risks of infringing our fundamental freedoms, and in particular the preservation of anonymity in the public space.." Between the undeniable gains made in the journey to the airport and the risks of a potentially freedom-destroying technologytravellers will have to weigh up the pros and cons. As with most digital services.
