Biometrics boost: U.S. border can be far more secure and cost-effective

OPINION:

The Trump administration is in the midst of an all-out push to secure the U.S. border. As part of this effort, officials are deploying more biometric tools to verify people’s identities.

For years, biometrics, which assesses unique physical characteristics such as fingerprints and faces, have drawn the ire of civil rights and immigration groups. These organizations are now launching a fresh assault on this technology.

As a former biometrics skeptic, I understand these concerns all too well. I also know that our nation depends on the efficient, safe flow of people into and out of the country, and I have realized that biometrics represents some of the most effective and secure tools we have to accomplish this goal.

First, let me take you back in time. A little over two decades ago, I served as senior policy adviser to Thomas J. Ridge, the first homeland security secretary. Back then, the Department of Homeland Security was a new agency with strong bipartisan support, and officials were considering using biometrics to reduce the risk of terrorism.

I was terrified. I had just seen “Minority Report,” a blockbuster film that envisioned a society in which police forces and corporations could use eye scanners and other technology to surveil and target people. I was deeply worried that expanding the use of biometrics would violate people’s privacy and be far too invasive.

Mr. Ridge, a widely respected leader, assured the agency of the benefits of biometrics. He was absolutely right. Most travelers were relieved to use the technology, mainly because the alternatives were far more biased and intrusive.

Without biometrics, border officers relied on their own judgments of people’s physical characteristics. That naturally introduced implicit biases and mistakes into the verification process. Officers would also interrogate people about their whereabouts, forcing them to provide even more personal information and inciting unnecessary fear.

Biometrics deliver far more accuracy without these judgments. People could simply provide their fingerprint or step in front of a screen and be greeted with a friendly, “Welcome to the United States.” There was no need for an officer to assess every traveler’s appearance or pepper them with unnecessary questions.

I came to realize that, with the right standards, biometric systems enhance privacy. After all, a fundamental tenet of privacy is that people provide only the information needed for validation — no more, no less. That information is stored securely. Biometrics aligns perfectly with that philosophy. There’s no need to provide bonus details, just physical attributes.

After my time at the Department of Homeland Security, I created the company that would become CLEAR, the popular service that uses biometrics to get people through airport security far more quickly and smoothly. Now, I believe it’s of the utmost importance to employ these tools more widely.

For one, biometric technology is one of the surest ways to verify people’s identities, providing a major boost to our border security. Passports and other documents can be faked. Case in point: U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently sent out an alert about people from certain countries using fraudulent passports to enter the United States illegally. Biometrics, meanwhile, are difficult to replicate and can provide pinpoint accuracy. One study of facial recognition software across the industry found that the technology’s accuracy rose from 96% to 99.8% from 2014 to 2018.

Biometric systems are also poised to deliver a windfall of savings, especially as the Trump administration prioritizes efficiency and cost reduction. It’s enormously expensive and time-consuming to staff people to vet incoming travelers and immigrants.

Fortunately, some apps enable people to securely enter and store biometric data on their phones. Officers can use these apps to assess travelers and immigrants and streamline legal entry into the country.

Biometrics are bipartisan and popular. Since 9/11, the use of biometrics has increased steadily, including under Democratic administrations. A whopping 68% of American adults believe facial recognition can make our society safer. Fueled by this support, a number of U.S.-based companies are now equipped to deploy this technology more widely.

There’s no question: Our border has the potential to be far more secure, cost-effective and efficient. Biometrics can drive that transformation.

• Ajay Amlani is CEO of Aware. Previously, he founded CLEAR and served as senior policy adviser to the homeland security secretary.