TSA Speeds Millions Through Airports Using Identity Verification Technology
On June 24, 2024, TSA set a record for most individuals screened on a single day and set another on June 28 for the 4th of July Independence Day travel. From a June 25, 2024, TSA press release:
“Airline passengers prepare to take to the skies this Independence Day holiday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is prepared for a sustained period of high passenger volumes. TSA expects to screen more than 32 million individuals from Thursday, June 27 through Monday, July 8, a 5.4% increase over 2023 Independence Day holiday travel volumes. On Sunday, June 23, TSA broke the record for most people screened daily, screening nearly three million (2.99 million) individuals. This summer’s record-breaking travel volumes reflect the role TSA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have in securing the nation’s transportation systems while ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce, which is vital to our country’s economic well-being.”
One of the authors experienced that technology in May when his mobile phone screen only showed his ticket number and name, but not those of his wife despite the ticket including both. The TSA screener suggested getting two paper boarding tickets next time to prevent ticket abbreviation due to WIFI interference in the 50-year-old building. A workaround was found through the TSA screener’s cooperation and savvy data checking, and two travelers were quickly cleared to travel.
Two years ago, the TSA screener would have sent them back to the airline front desk to get paper tickets and go through security again. Today’s credential screening technology in 25 major U.S. airports and hundreds more by the end of 2025 will move travelers faster and safer through verification employing mobile phones.
Large-Scale Credentialing
On July 9th, Washington, DC began hosting a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting, including all 32 NATO members. To accomplish the identity verification of so many foreign visitors, it began with a well-organized credentialing process for the participants, using a diplomatic quality confirmation for identity documents and at least some mobile phone "hosted passports." There was also screening for concealed weapons by U.S. government security personnel whose arms were in plain sight. Doubtless, there was discrete accommodation for a few participants who forgot to bring their passports or were last-minute substitutes for pre-screened diplomats. We will never know.
In June 2023, a recent article entitled: “January 5, 2023, was the 50th Anniversary of Airline Passenger Security Screening: It changed society forever.” laid out the history of airline screening and touched upon the invention of the technology behind it. Fifty years, can you imagine if we had no ID checks or passenger security screening today? It would be worse than in 1968 when 23 aircraft were hijacked (130 in the four years). This was five years before mandatory airline passenger security screening was implemented (January 5, 1973). Over the next few years, there were shootings, murders, and extortion, and some airplanes were blown out of the skies. The establishment of the TSA in 2002, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, was the correct decision by our Federal Government.
In addition to the new benchmarks in TSA screening of airline passengers and NATO summit participants from many countries this summer, the Democrat and Republican conventions will screen thousands using user-guided screens for identity and party convention credentials. Party delegates and their companions showing up will be cooperative and able to quickly manage all the self-operated ID verification and security screening machines without irritation and delay. Most will feel that “it’s no big deal.”
The authors recently completed a book, “Personal Identification,” which expanded the original 2009 publication from ASIS and added a new chapter on Real ID Driver's Licenses. This is timely as the TSA has declared it will begin enforcement in airports on May 7, 2025. There is no reason American citizens should not want their verified identity known when asked—only criminals want otherwise.
REAL ID Makes a Splash
On May 7, 2024, the Federal Transportation Service Administration announced that the REAL ID "air passenger identification requirement" would not be extended after May 7, 2025. Unless you already have (and carry) a U.S. Passport you will be expected to present one to fly commercial next year.
In edited excerpts from a recent podcast interview with Ian Grossman, the President of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators released on June 2, 2024:
“We know that we can be prepared to enforce the deadline on May 7th (2025) without having a major disruption in our checkpoint... starting incrementally... we've already begun to hand out notices to (airline passengers) who do not have the REAL ID compliant driver's license or another form of acceptable ID... stating...the enforcement date and where they need to go to get the proper type of identification. It takes them to the list of TSA's acceptable forms of ID, as well as to the REAL ID site, where they can go to their state website and find out exactly what's required of them and hopefully make an appointment or get to their DMV to make that happen.”
Before the announcement of the Real ID program, most Americans assumed that everyone had an official ID with his/her state-issued driver’s license and that these documents were "trusted and secure". Now that the TSA has alerted the public to the facts, it is quite effortless to upgrade your standard "non-compliant" driver’s license to a Real ID one. The driver’s license was the logical choice for Congress to recommend for the Real ID document because it is already being issued by hundreds of DMV offices in all states, which makes these services easily accessible to all American citizens. Even though it took more than ten years to bring all 50 States and Territories into compliance, it has been completed and will begin May 7, 2025. Our country, via the TSA, must have appropriate aircraft protection. Physical Security (screening passengers) and Identification Security (Real ID) will accomplish this.
You may never have thought why of all the forms of transportation, only airplanes are so difficult to secure. Here are just a few reasons: airplanes fly to many different countries with different people and laws; they are accessible to the public who do strange things; once in the air, no rescue or escape is possible; criminals can fly to distant escape locations; passengers, crew and even the aircraft shell are delicate and valuable assets; one criminal can control the entire confined space of an aircraft are just a few of the threats.
As the TSA-designed ID, the Real ID Driver’s License will provide many additional benefits to Americans. It will be used confidently for credit card proof, banking, legal proof, and proof of ID wherever necessary. For our modern 20th-century Society, Personal Identification has become essential. While the United States has been one of the last to provide its citizens with a "trusted and secure" ID, crime follows the money. This has now been corrected.
