S. 1691 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, May 8, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryLimits facial recognition use at airport security
This bill restricts how the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) can use facial recognition technology when screening passengers at airports. The TSA could only use it to verify someone's identity during the screening process, and passengers would need to be told beforehand and give permission each time. If you don't want to use it, the TSA would verify your identity using your driver's license or other ID instead, without collecting fingerprints or other biometric information.
How it affects you
If you fly, this change affects you directly. Before facial recognition scans your face at security, you'd be notified and asked to agree to it. You can always opt out and use your ID to get screened instead, and the TSA can't treat you worse for refusing. The bill also prevents the TSA from tracking you with facial recognition outside the security checkpoint or sharing your biometric data with other agencies.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, May 8, 2025)
Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025
This bill limits the use of facial recognition or matching technology (e.g., matching and identification software) in airports for passenger screening.
In general, the bill restricts the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) use of the technology to performing passenger identity verification at airport screening locations. The TSA must notify passengers prior to each use of the technology and receive affirmative express consent. If a passenger opts out of the use of the technology, then the TSA must perform identity verification using an approved identification document (e.g., a state driver's license) without collecting biometric information (e.g., fingerprints).
For a passenger using a trusted traveler program (e.g., Global Entry), the TSA must provide notice on the use of the technology at the time of program enrollment and renewal and as the passenger approaches the point of identity verification. The passenger must have the option to opt out.
The bill prohibits the TSA from (1) subjecting a passenger who opts out of the screening to discriminatory treatment or less favorable screening conditions; (2) using the technology to track or identify passengers outside of the screening location or to enable systemic, indiscriminate, or wide-scale monitoring, surveillance, or tracking; and (3) sharing biometric information collected through the use of the technology. The bill also limits the amount of time that the TSA may store the information collected.
Further, these restrictions and requirements apply to the TSA's use of the technology in other specified circumstances (e.g., employee screenings).
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1691
A BILL
Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) · Introduced May 8, 2025 · Transportation and Public Works · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 8, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”