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DHS May Require US Citizens Be Photographed At Airports

Travelers wait at the terminal at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Associated Press
Travelers wait at the terminal at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Federal officials are considering requiring that all travelers — including American citizens — be photographed as they enter or leave the country as part of an identification system using facial-recognition technology.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a recent filing that it expects to publish a proposed rule next July.

Critics are already raising objections.

Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., said Tuesday he will introduce legislation to block the plan and prohibit American citizens from being forced to provide facial-recognition information. He says a recent data breach at Customs and Border Protection shows that Homeland Security can’t be trusted with the information.

Facial recognition is being tested by several airlines at a handful of U.S. airports. American citizens are allowed to opt out of being photographed.