Warren Shepell, a prominent Canadian psychologist, faced a troubling incident on a recent flight from Cleveland to Toronto. As he was about to board the plane, two uniformed officers approached him on the boarding ramp and took his photograph without explanation, leaving him feeling violated and ambushed.
This experience is part of a larger initiative by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to expand the use of facial biometrics for all international travelers entering and exiting the United States. The program, which has been in place at U.S. airports for nearly a decade, aims to collect images of departing passengers at all international airports, as well as at sea ports and land borders.
CBP plans to have facial biometric technology fully operational at land borders next year and expects complete implementation at sea ports and airports within the next three to five years. A recent DHS rule mandates that non-U.S. citizens, including Canadians, participate in the facial biometrics program, with photos stored in a DHS database for up to 75 years.
While CBP asserts that the program enhances security and enforces immigration laws, privacy experts raise concerns about potential misuse and lack of federal regulations governing facial biometrics in the U.S. Despite assurances from CBP that photos of U.S. citizens are retained for only 12 hours and the option to opt out by requesting a manual inspection, critics worry about the implications for personal data privacy.
The expansion of CBP’s facial biometrics program has triggered skepticism and apprehension among travelers like Warren Shepell, who now questions future visits to the U.S. The lack of prior notification and potential impact on tourism are also highlighted by experts, as Canadian travel to the U.S. has declined in recent years. The overall sentiment suggests that the program may serve as a deterrent to international travel to the U.S. amid ongoing privacy and security concerns.