TSA tests document verification technology

The Transportation Security Administration recently announced that it has begun testing technology at airports that can detect altered or fraudulent passenger identification documents.

According to a statement, the "Credential Authentication Technology – Boarding Pass Scanning Systems" (CAT-BPSS) technology, is currently being tested at Washington Dulles International Airport and that it will also be tested at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico.

In October, TSA said that it awarded limited contracts to BAE Systems Information Solutions, Inc., Trans-Digital Technologies, LLC, and NCR Government Systems, LLC to provide pilot testing of the technology. Each selected airport will receive a total of six detection units, two units from each vendor.

"The piloting of this technology is another milestone in TSA’s ongoing risk-based security initiative," said TSA Administrator John Pistole in the statement. "The ability to efficiently and effectively identify fraudulent identity documents and authenticate boarding passes has the potential to not only improve security but also the checkpoint experience for passengers."