CLEAR has introduced NextGen Identity+ facial recognition technology to reduce the threat of fraudulent acceptance and speed up clearances.
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Revolutionizing Airport Security: The Rise of CLEAR
The aviation industry is constantly seeking ways to enhance efficiency without compromising safety. CLEAR, a biometric identity verification service, has emerged as a game-changer in this space. By implementing advanced facial recognition technology, CLEAR offers a swift and secure way to verify identities, significantly streamlining the airport security clearance process.
The Efficiency Edge
CLEAR’s facial recognition technology significantly reduces the time spent in security lines. Traditional methods involve manual checks of identification documents, often leading to longer queues and increased wait times. CLEAR’s system, however, swiftly verifies identities using biometric data, allowing enrolled travelers to bypass the initial document check lines. This not only speeds up the process but also reduces the stress and rush, particularly beneficial for frequent flyers and business travelers.
“A Clear spokeswoman said Monday that NextGen Identity+ is the result of that collaboration. The new ID verification system will validate identity documents back to the issuing source, she said.
On its website, Clear said that the new technology will provide a faster experience for members by eliminating the need for them to stop at a kiosk for the ID check.
“Our vision is to keep you moving through the Clear lane where you don’t break stride,” the website says.” – Travel Weekly
Enhanced Security: A Double Win
While speed is a clear advantage, it can’t come at the cost of security. In fact, CLEAR’s facial recognition technology enhances it. Biometric data, like facial features, are unique to each individual and virtually impossible to replicate, unlike traditional documents that can be lost, stolen, or forged. This heightened level of security ensures that only authorized individuals gain access to sensitive airport areas.
This writer hasn’t seen the backend of the software (nor could he personally attest to the strength and security of the coding) but has doubts about just how fast and accurate it is. If it’s truly more accurate than the current fingerprint or retinal scan how far does that extend? What about colored contacts, facial hair, changes to a hair style or significant weight gain or loss?
The Technology Behind CLEAR’s Success
According to the company, CLEAR’s system employs state-of-the-art facial recognition technology. This involves capturing a live image of the traveler’s face and comparing it against a pre-registered image in the database. The technology looks at various facial features and measurements, ensuring a match is accurate and reliable. This process is not only efficient but also contactless, an added benefit in the post-COVID-19 world.
Privacy and Data Security: A Top Priority
Understanding the potential concerns about privacy and data security, CLEAR states it adheres to stringent protocols. Personal data is encrypted and stored securely, with access strictly controlled. Additionally, CLEAR is transparent about its data use policies, reassuring users that their information is handled with the utmost care and confidentiality.
That said, CLEAR has had two data leaks of note and that makes some travelers even more cautious about giving further data to the technology company.
It’s also a question of competency and human error. Even when the system works as it should, are the employees trained well enough not to advance an incorrect person to the front of line.
“Those incidents include one in July 2022 in which CLEAR registered a passenger under an ID that wasn’t his, then escorted him through a TSA checkpoint to the baggage screening line even after CLEAR’s systems flagged the identification as mismatched. That fraud wasn’t discovered until days later, when that passenger tried to carry ammunition through a TSA checkpoint at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.” – Politico
That last concern is a serious one because, in the end, fraudulently using another person’s identification is a dangerous issue though not life threatening – attempting to bring ammunition onboard following the success of the first case of fraud is potentially far more grave.
The Future of Airport Security with CLEAR
CLEAR’s integration into airports nationwide is still in the early stages. In fact, my home airport of Pittsburgh just saw the first machines installed last week while major hubs have had the service for more than a decade. As the technology evolves, we can expect even more innovative features. Future enhancements may include more personalized experiences, such as tailored travel information and streamlined boarding processes. The potential for expansion beyond airports into other venues like stadiums and concert halls further underscores the versatility of this technology.
However, it’s most important that CLEAR advance in the protection of data, security of its process, and prevent issues where it can be modified or socially engineered.
Conclusion
The implementation of CLEAR’s facial recognition technology in airport security is potentially a significant leap forward. It offers a blend of efficiency, security, and convenience, marking a new era in the aviation industry. As new technology is rolled out, it behooves all of us to be cautious but optimistic about the advances.
What do you think?
I have a Clear membership, but I basically don’t use it. In airports that I frequent, AUS, MCO, ATL, STL, Clear generally takes longer than the standard precheck line. The TSA already has facial recognition capabilities, and it’s being rolled out in a lot of places. I really don’t see the long-term purpose of Clear.
I’ve been reading about this so called next gen but I haven’t seen any rendering of this. I was hoping this article would give additional info beyond what Clear has already published. As Clear members, we’re going to have to do an ID check to program this. It sounds like this will be eventually an automated ID check and from the description provided by Clear it will not require a kiosk visit which seems to be the current choke point.
At multiple airports across the country this quarter, I have found that the PreCheck line has been faster for me than if I would have instead chosen to go via Clear/Clear+PreCheck. And that is even when there are more free Clear employees hanging around the Clear machines to help travelers clear security than there are Clear-using travelers in the Clear lines.
Same here – it’s become clumsy and bogged down. Why can’t TSA just implement something similar. And I ask this as a member who found it more useful in years past.
My experiences are similar at EWR, Clear takes longer.
Same here at DEN
Similar in BOS. The mere fact that CLEAR insists on having an agent attend you slows things down. You wait until the person meets you and shows you your kiosk. Then you need to remove your glasses (at least for me), then you need to adjust the position of your head to be perfectly aligned with the camera, and finally the Clear agent needs to walk you past the TSA agent. That is a very clumsy process. The only reason it is sometimes better than Pre-Check is because of the steep membership fee (I got my membership reimbursed through my credit card).
No clue why anyone would pay for this. PreChevk is always quick and is free with most of our credit cards. Maybe that’s why we are reading this.
Have to ask, how much did you get paid to run this ad?
What a BS! Since when Pre-Check is free? I get Clear for free since day one from Delta so I pay nothing. Pre-Check is always quick? Maybe in your town. Try that at DEN for example and you will want to have Clear.
It varies by airport and even time of day/particular flights at airports, but Clear is definitely not always or even generally a time saver for me. It has its use at times for me, but then that’s mostly at DCA even as elsewhere it’s too often slower for me than just going down the regular PreCheck lines.
If I were to no longer be a DCA flyer, I would probably not care to pay for Clear were I required to use any of my own money for it.
I’m a frequent DCA traveler, too. Given the sheer volume of DoD travelers that receive Pre-Check courtesy their EDIPI, Clear is always faster…at least during the times I travel.
My other domestic home airport is in the Midwest where our closest hubs are ATL and ORD. We draw from a lot of backwards states where flying is “for the coastal elite” and the populations of said states are of the “why would anyone want to leave [state/country] anyway? It’s the greatest state/country on Earth” type. So we get a lot of infrequent flyers who clearly have no idea what they’re doing nor have they seen anything on TV about how airports and airport security work. Even those semi-learned few who know what Pre-Check is are still dumbfounded by the process (yes, you DO have to remove your belt given the belt buckle could hold a Thanksgiving turkey, dumbass) and Clear remains effective in bypassing the mouth-breathing knuckledraggers.
At DCA, Clear works well to sort of get me back to the predictability of clearing security when flying out of DCA that I had back when I used to fly out of there 2-6 days a week most weeks of the year.
At airports in the Midwest, Clear doesn’t do me a whole lot of consistent good like it does at DCA. Often I find Clear slower for my flights originating out of MSP and out of ORD than just PreCheck. And at the smaller airports in IA, IL, MN and WI that take me to ORD, MSP or DTW, Clear is useless for me.
Many airlines credit cards such as Aviator Silver have a credit for Global Entry or Precheck every few years. So yes, it’s FREE. Maybe get a better card and stop traveling to a place where the line moves slow because everyone is stoned like Denver.
Clear is free with certain airlines depending on status. BTW, not everyone in Denver is stoned, narrow minds make for small thoughts…Dave
@Dave Edwards – If CLEAR wants to send me a check, I’d cash it in record time. Sadly, they’ve not paid me anything. I guess I don’t get your position from a reader perspective. I’m trying to explain the feature they’ve been emailing users about that will change how many of us get through security. I guess I didn’t drag them enough for this to feel objective? I mention flaws in their prior system and link to data breaches they’ve had. I temper my expectations for the feature’s performance. There are some places where every post is a plug, but that’s not us.
I am pleased by how this site doesn’t peddle credit cards in the body of the pieces, and my sense is that this site has the right balance for me as a reader in how it generates revenue. Just my thoughts as a Clear critic.
Is this an informercial for CLEAR? How does it work if the particular airport or terminal (e.g., DFW) does not have CLEAR lane?
DFW does have Clear…. Check terminal E at E8, E16 and E18.
Clear was a big timesuck at PHX. First I had to do an iris scan. Then I had to scan my face. Then it took 3 tries for another iris scan. And then finally flagged by clear for an ID check by TSA.
At the same time no line at pre-check.
If clear needs to update stuff it should email me to let me know to allocate more time. I pay to go faster not slower.
To all the folks who don’t see much value- Think of it as diversifying your portfolio for airport security. Plenty of times, pre check without clear is faster. Sometimes (rarely) standard security line is shorter. Sometimes, cutting the line with clear helps. No rule or law says you MUST use pre check or clear if you have it. Since for many of us, these are essentially “no out of pocket” with credit card reimbursement, might as well.
Not enough digging here or elsewhere about real data leaks by clear. I get it for free more than one way. And the two ‘data leaks’ mentioned here would more commonly be called ‘security breaches’ and ‘instances of fraud’. When most people hear ‘data leak’ they think a customer, employee, or other business affiliate had their data accessed or released to unauthorized party(ies) by clear. That’s not what has been reported so far. But I’m reluctant to release what could be one of ‘the ultimate’ second factors for user authentication to anyone with a whiff of data breach and without knowing much more about how they protect data. So, in spite of the low out of pocket cost to me for clear, I will wait and see and read before making and decision to opt in. I didn’t do so for old clear and I’m not sure I’ll do so for new clear.
It seems to me that Clear is just a way of cutting to the front of the TSA queue with an inefficient escort in a cheap polo shirt. The TSA still often check your ID or boarding pass. It’s a gimmick in the “theater” of airport security.
The best programs are pre-check and the no-fly list.
I have always found the wait for the baggage and body scan are the slow part of clearing security. CLEAR doesn’t fix theis.
Facial and eye biometric scans have been used by some legacy airlines for yrs for employees. It does speed up the process faster than prechek, clear, etc. For the general public any and all bugs need to be ironed out. You would think the same machines would be used for the public but that’s a question TSA, gov’t officials, the airlines, and manufactures need to address.
The real question is why don’t we just get rid of passenger ID checking and not just relegate Clear to being a paid priority security screening line without the dog and pony show ID checking and “background checks”.
People free enough to walk around without ID should be free enough to fly around domestically without ID checks too. The governmental no-fly and watch lists shouldn’t apply for domestic flights, so eliminate that and get rid of the passenger ID checks too and we would fly through airports even faster.
all 9/11 terrorist crashed flights were domestic, so no-fly lists need to apply to domestic flights