JFK Airport to implement facial recognition technology

Investment in anti-terror measures such as facial recognition and video tracking technology at John F. Kennedy International Airport is part of a $10 billion plan to revamp the airport, according to a report by the New York Post.

Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled the plan Wednesday, which also calls for major improvements to highways, interconnected terminals, and an increase in flights.

“JFK is ranked 59th out of the top 100 international airports. We used to be number one,” Cuomo said during a presentation to the Association for a Better New York. “Time has passed us by. We have to catch up.”

Civilian airport employees and law enforcement officials are currently training to reinforce security, which will include anti-terror technologies such as facial-recognition and video tracking technologies, Cuomo said.

The major revamp comes as JFK expects its passenger load to jump from 60 million in 2016 to 75 million by 2030.

Still, some industry insiders are skeptical about the new plan, calling to attention that no specific deadlines were provided for completion dates, and that an estimated $7 billion in private funding was not confirmed.

“It’s more of a vision than a plan,” said one airport source who attended the event.

Last May, NEC Corporation of America began working with Unisys to provide the U.S. Customs and Border Protection with facial comparison technology at JFK to enhance the Air Entry process through accurate assurance of traveler identity.

Article Topics

airport biometrics  |  biometrics  |  facial recognition  |  video surveillance