Congress moves to require TSA consent for facial recognition at airports
S. 1691 — Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025 · Filed by Jeff Merkley (D-OR) · 5 cosponsors · Introduced May 8, 2025 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill restricts the Transportation Security Administration's use of facial recognition technology at airports. It prohibits TSA from using 1:N matching (comparing a traveler's face against a database of millions) without explicit passenger consent, and requires TSA to offer a non-facial-recognition alternative at every security checkpoint. The bill also mandates transparency: TSA must disclose what biometric data it collects, how long it keeps it, and who it shares it with.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is a consent and transparency mandate for facial recognition at airports. It is a straightforward privacy-protection measure that restricts government surveillance authority rather than expanding it.
What the text implies
- Travelers who refuse facial recognition consent may face longer security lines or secondary screening, creating a de facto pressure to consent despite the nominal opt-out right.
- TSA's obligation to offer non-facial alternatives may shift screening burden to manual ID checks or other methods, potentially affecting airport throughput and traveler experience.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who it affects
Ordinary travelers gain explicit control over whether their biometric data is collected and searched against government databases, plus transparency about TSA's surveillance practices. The requirement for opt-in consent and non-facial alternatives protects privacy rights without blocking airport security; TSA retains 1:1 matching (ID verification) and other screening methods.