U.S. Considers Face Scanners for Airports

[dbaker]

U.S. Considers Face Scanners for Airports

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. government and aviation officials are poised to begin using facial recognition systems to scan airport terminals for suspected terrorists, Monday's Washington Post reported.

The paper said a government committee appointed by Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta (news - web sites) to improve airport security, received a briefing on Thursday from the inventor of a leading facial recognition system, who said equipment could be installed and operating within a few weeks.

The scanner company's president told the committee the system could be linked to cameras at security checkpoints and transmit information about suspected terrorists to government officials via the Internet, creating what he called a ''nationwide shield.''

[dbaker]

U.S. Considers Face Scanners for Airports

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. government and aviation officials are poised to begin using facial recognition systems to scan airport terminals for suspected terrorists, Monday's Washington Post reported.

The paper said a government committee appointed by Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta (news - web sites) to improve airport security, received a briefing on Thursday from the inventor of a leading facial recognition system, who said equipment could be installed and operating within a few weeks.

The scanner company's president told the committee the system could be linked to cameras at security checkpoints and transmit information about suspected terrorists to government officials via the Internet, creating what he called a ''nationwide shield.''