Motion 2019-13, Biometrics Principles and Biometrics Working Group Page 1 of 5
MOTION 2019-13:
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A MOTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION
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adopting guiding principles for the public-facing use of
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biometric technology at Port of Seattle maritime and
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aviation facilities; establishing a working group to
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develop policy recommendations governing public-
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facing biometric use at the port; and establishing
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deadlines for further actions.
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PROPOSED
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DECEMBER 10, 2019
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INTRODUCTION
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Biometrics is the measurement and analysis of physical and behavioral characteristics that are
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used to identify individuals through technology. An example of a physical characteristic includes
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the unique features of an individual’s face or their fingerprint. An example of a behavioral
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characteristic includes an individual’s voice, signature, or how they walk.
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The Port of Seattle has long used various forms of biometrics at its aviation and maritime
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facilities – for access control and verification of employee, contractor, vendor, consultant
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identity. However, biometric technology – particularly facial recognition – is increasingly being
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deployed on the customer-facing side of airport and cruise operations, as both an identity
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validation as well as a customer facilitation tool to speed up check-in, boarding and screening
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processes.
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As with any developing technology, public sector leaders have an obligation to ensure
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appropriate and responsible use of not only the technology itself, but the related data that is
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generated. The port commission believes proper biometric policy should balance operational
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needs, business priorities and regulatory mandates with protections for the interests and rights
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of passengers, employees and other visitors to our facilities.
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TEXT OF THE MOTION
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Port of Seattle Principles for Public-Facing Biometric Technology
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The Commission hereby adopts the following principles to guide the use of public-facing
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biometric technology at Port of Seattle facilities:
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1) Justified: Biometric technology at port facilities should be used only for a clear intended
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purpose that furthers a specific operational need. The port does not condone biometrics
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Item Number: ____8a__________
Meeting Date: December 10, 2019
Motion 2019-13, Biometrics Principles and Biometrics Working Group Page 2 of 5
for “mass surveillance” – for example, use of facial recognition on large groups of people
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without a lawful purpose, rather than single-use for travelers.
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2) Voluntary: The use of biometrics to identify and validate travelers through port facilities
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should be voluntary, and reasonable alternatives should be provided for those who do
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not wish to participate – through a convenient “opt-in” or “opt-out” process, except in
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specific situations authorized by the port or required by federal law such as U.S.
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Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) entry and exit requirements for non-U.S.
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citizens. Unintended capture of data by biometric technology from those travelers
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opting out of such biometric data collection, or of any non-travelers or other visitors at
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the airport, should be prevented; any unintended capture of this data should not be
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stored.
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3) Private: Data collected by biometric technology at port facilities or by port employees
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from travelers through port facilities should be stored only if needed, for no longer than
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required by applicable law or regulations, and should be protected against unauthorized
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access. The port opposes this data being knowingly sold or used for commercial
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purposes unrelated to processing travelers at port facilities without their clear and
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informed consent.
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4) Equitable: The port opposes discrimination or systemic bias based on religion, age,
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gender, race or other demographic identifiers. Biometric technology used at port
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facilities or by port employees should be reasonably accurate in identifying people of all
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backgrounds, and systems should be in place to treat mismatching issues with proper
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cultural sensitivity and discretion.
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5) Transparent: Use of biometric technology for passenger processing at port facilities
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should be communicated to visitors and travelers. Individuals should be notified about
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any collection of their biometric data to facilitate travel at port facilities, and how that
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data may be used, in easily understood terms. Reports on the performance and
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effectiveness of the technology should also be made public to ensure accountability.
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6) Lawful: Use of biometric technology and/or access to associated biometric data
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collected should comply with all laws, including privacy laws and laws prohibiting
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discrimination or illegal search against individuals or groups.
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7) Ethical: The port and its partners should act ethically when deploying biometric
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technology or handling biometric data. Ethical behavior means actions which respect
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key moral principles that include honesty, fairness, equality, dignity, diversity and
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individual rights. In particular, use of biometrics at port facilities should comply with
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Resolution No. 3747, establishing the port’s Welcoming Port Policy Directive to increase
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engagement with, and support for, immigrant and refugee communities.
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Motion 2019-13, Biometrics Principles and Biometrics Working Group Page 3 of 5
These principles will apply until a more comprehensive policy is put in place, through the
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working group process laid out below.
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Implementation of Biometric Principles for Maritime and Aviation Use
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Port leadership will implement an approval process for any proposals for new or expanded use
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of public-facing biometric technology to ensure alignment with these principles. Any proposal
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for new or expanded use of public-facing biometric technology will be communicated in
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advance directly to the port commission and through the port’s external communications
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channels. The use of public-facing biometric technology at port facilities is subject at all times to
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the port’s requirements, which may be revised and changed following implementation of port
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policies through the working group process described below. Upon implementation, the Port’s
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biometric policies should be incorporated into commitments or agreements governing the use
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of biometric technology at Port facilities.
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Because the port does not have jurisdiction over the use of biometrics by the federal
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government at our facilities, the port will communicate these principles to CBP and other
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federal partners such as the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Coast
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Guard. We will not only notify them of our desired standards, but also work with these agencies
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and Congress to ensure that federal programs in place at port facilities are aligned as closely as
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possible with port policy regarding utilization of public-facing biometric technology.
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Through this motion, a port working group is established to develop further recommendations
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governing port policy related to use of public-facing biometric technology, which shall be
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submitted to the commission by the end of the 2
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quarter of 2020. Issues to be addressed by
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this working group include:
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• the strategic use and objectives of biometrics;
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• procurement;
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• transparency and accountability for biometric implementation;
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• auditing of this technology to ensure compliance and accuracy, and auditing prior to
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approval of expansion of technology;
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• commitments or agreements with airlines, cruise operators, and other Port tenants and
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users;
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• handling biometric data collected and stored from the technology;
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• protection of personally identifying information;
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• data security protocols and protection from unlawful or unauthorized access;
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• alignment with the port’s Welcoming Port Policy;
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• state and federal policy priorities;
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• outreach and public awareness strategy to prepare travelers and community members;
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• and any other relevant topics that arise.
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In addition, the working group should develop a comprehensive list of known public-facing
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biometric implementation being planned at port facilities over the next five years.
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The working group will include, but not be limited to, representatives from the following port
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departments: Aviation Security; Aviation Operations; Airport Innovation; Maritime Security;
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Maritime Operations; Commission Office; Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion; Information
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and Communications Technology; Information Security; Government Relations; Legal; and
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Police. The working group shall also seek input from maritime and aviation industry partners
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and other stakeholders. The policy recommendations shall be delivered to Commission by the
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end of the 2
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quarter of 2020, and the Commission may create an ad hoc, limited term
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Commission Committee to oversee these efforts.
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STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION
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Due to technological advances, perceived customer benefits and federal requirements, there
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will be a significant increase in public-facing facial recognition technology deployment by public
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and private sector users over the next few years, including in airport and seaport settings that
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will impact travelers and other visitors to our facilities. In advance of this expansion, the port
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commission believes that it has an obligation to institute proper policy frameworks and clear
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guidelines to reduce potential misuse and abuse, while improving public understanding of the
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benefits and risks. Specifically, the port must ensure individual privacy, civil liberties, and
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equity, and that biometric technology and use of the associated data is aligned with state and
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federal laws intended to protect those rights.
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Biometrics are used in various forms at the port’s aviation and maritime facilities:
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• Across the port, port-issued identification cards currently utilize fingerprint biometrics
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to access secure or restricted areas or to permit authorized personnel access to port
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facilities outside of normal business hours or in locations where there is no other
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monitoring of access. In addition, many port employees are issued iPhones with
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fingerprint and facial recognition as an alternative to password protection, and facial
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recognition is also used on Microsoft Windows 10.
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• At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), airport employees are required to
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scan their fingerprint at many secure doors throughout the facility. Sea-Tac also offers
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travelers the option of using CLEAR to validate the identity of a traveler as they process
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through TSA checkpoints using biometric technology instead of using traditional
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identification and validation methods.
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• On the maritime side, biometric data is required by federal regulation for issuance of
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TSA-issued Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) smart cards that are
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required to access maritime facilities regulated by the U.S. Coast Guard and cruise
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terminal operational areas. In addition, the cruise industry is increasingly taking
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advantage of biometrics as a passenger facilitation tool; for example, Norwegian Cruise
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Line and CBP have partnered for use of facial recognition for disembarkation of guests at
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Pier 66.
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One of the leading drivers of the expected deployment of public-facing biometrics over the next
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few years is implementation by CBP of a Congressionally mandated biometric exit-entry
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screening process for international air passengers. Sea-Tac’s International Arrivals Facility will
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incorporate facial recognition for almost all arriving passengers (other than those U.S. citizens
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who opt-out), and CBP is working with the port and its airline partners to incorporate this
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technology into departing international passenger processes.
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Facial recognition is also increasingly being utilized by the port’s private sector partners. Delta
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Air Lines opened the first full biometric airport terminal in Atlanta in November 2018, and is
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working to bring aspects of their “curb to gate” experience to Sea-Tac. Similarly, many of the
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port’s cruise partners are working to streamline the check-in and boarding process for their
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travelers through facial recognition.
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Some members of the public and various advocacy organizations have expressed concerns
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about the rapidly expanding use of facial recognition. These stakeholders have raised issues
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around privacy, equity and civil liberties, although their main focus has been on broad law
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enforcement use of this technology for “mass surveillance” rather than the kind of customer
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facilitation uses that are being considered at port facilities. They support the use of appropriate
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regulation to ensure protections against abuse, discrimination and unintended consequences.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ATTACHED
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Presentation slides
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