TSA expanding facial recognition scanners to over 400 airports

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been testing facial recognition technology at various airports, including Bush Intercontinental here in Houston, for several months. As the tweaks and fine tuning continues on their end, they have announced the expansion of the program from 30 initial airports, to over 400 airports.

Ideas of the technology from the jump have sparked a wide array of fears. Some people are concerned about data-sharing, some are concerned about identity theft, some are even concerned about their face being exposed to a camera.

Aviation expert Jay Ratliff says that if this system works as intended, it could be a big help.

"Imagine how nice it would be to walk to a ticket counter...and instead of pulling out a driver license or ID card...it is simply a two second facial scan...they check your bags, and away you go," he says.

Nevertheless, the idea has sparked concerns of actually slowing down the process and hampering an already bogged down system.

"If there is one thing all of us who travel do not want it more aggravations...we no longer enjoy travel, we endure it. The thought is that if some of this is going to make it harder...we do not want to do it," he says.

Of course, on the flip side, there is a segment of the population that does not want their face exposed to a camera. Especially when they do not know who is behind the camera, or who is watching.

But that argument is somewhat moot at this point.

"Have you ever been to a casino? The minute you walk into a casino, someone is looking at your face," he says. "It is the exact same technology being used around most of the country, and the world."

The TSA has assured there will be an opt-out option for people who are truly not comfortable with the idea.

But to say it is invasive or illegal does not hold any water.

"There is a line we can cross where we give up too much of our liberties...but flying is a right...it is a privilege we have," he says.

But assuming the technology is in working order, and cuts wait times as intended, this could be something that becomes necessary.

"If it is true that demand for travel is going to double the next ten years...by then we might be looking back and calling these the good old days," says Ratliff.