Canadian gov’t considers ‘biometric’ scans, AI at airports
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The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority under PM Mark Carney is looking into potentially mandatory biometric technology for pre-board screening.
(LifeSiteNews) — The Canadian federal government is looking at whether to go forward with using biometric technology along with artificial intelligence (AI) at the nation’s airports.
According to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), biometric tech is a work in progress with Transport Canada and other partners. The plan is to use the invasive tech for pre-board screening.
According to CATSA, as per Blacklock’s Reporter, it will not decide whether or not this type of screening will be mandatory, however.
“CATSA will not be the authority to determine whether biometrics should be mandatory,” spokesperson Anna Maddison said in comments to the media.
“Any decisions related to use of biometric technology are matters of government policy and would be made by Transport Canada.”
Maddison noted that CATSA and Transport Canada, along with partners, are “exploring the feasibility of biometric technology at the security screening checkpoint.”
The technology to implement what in many ways amounts to a digital ID is already in place. CATSA’s Restricted Area Identity Card system uses both fingerprint and iris biometric scanners for authorized airport staff to go into restricted places in airports.
At this time, it has not been revealed whether or not such ID systems would become mandatory.
The ruling federal government under Liberal Party leader Prime Minister Mark Carney has in the past moved toward bringing forth digital identification systems in Canada.
Indeed, just last year, Canadian airport officials asked the federal government to implement a digital ID for domestic travelers as an option in the name of “modernization.”