Indian security agency to deploy facial recognition system for international flights

Dec 6, 2018, 2:39 pm EST | Chris Burt

The Indian federal agency responsible for airport security is planning to deploy facial recognition cameras linked to law-enforcement databases at international airports to catch fugitives or individuals attempting to travel with fake identity documents, The Times of India reports.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will screen both international departures and arrivals, according to the report.

“Facial recognition is used at many airports globally as well at some access control points. We are looking at having the system for our airports too. We also want to use video analytics in a big way at all airports,” says CISF Director General Rajesh Ranjan. “For this purpose, we have written to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).”

The government of India is also rolling out its Digi Yatra system for paperless air travel using facial biometrics, which is expected to launch in 2019. The CISF plans to connect its system to the Digi Yatra database, the intra-state crime and criminal tracking network and systems (CCTNS) as well as other sources, according to the Times of India. Ranjan also said the system will be used to identify suspicious objects and behavior.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) recently started the tender process to implement Digi Yatra at four airports, and roughly three quarters of global airports and airlines are expected to invest in biometrics technology according to SITA research.