DHS funds development of biometric checkpoint technology
22 September, 2009
category: Biometrics, Government
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun funding for a $20 million project conducted by Draper Laboratory intended to create a new biometric-based tool for security screening at airport checkpoints, according to a Security Management article.
The program being created is intended to recognized imperceptible physiological and behavioral biometrics such as heart rate, blink rate and fidgeting and alert security staff to begin a follow-up screening with the passenger.
Despite DHS project manager Robert Burns saying that the system is purposely being designed to expose those harboring malicious intent and not those hurrying or in a general worried state, the system’s opponents are doubtful that the system will show success.
The two main worries of the system’s opponents are that any system of this sort could not be as refined as the human agents watching checkpoints and that the system will only lead to innocent travelers ending up receiving follow-up screenings or finding their names on a terrorist watch list. Still, those involved in the project are confident in the system’s eventual capabilities and insist that the system will in no way record information on the individual leading to their name ending up on a watch list.
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