Item Number: ____8a__________
Meeting Date: December 10, 2019
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MOTION 2019-13:
A MOTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION
adopting guiding principles for the public-facing use of
biometric technology at Port of Seattle maritime and
aviation facilities; establishing a working group to
develop policy recommendations governing publicfacing biometric use at the port; and establishing
deadlines for further actions.
PROPOSED
DECEMBER 10, 2019
INTRODUCTION
Biometrics is the measurement and analysis of physical and behavioral characteristics that are
used to identify individuals through technology. An example of a physical characteristic includes
the unique features of an individual's face or their fingerprint. An example of a behavioral
characteristic includes an individual's voice, signature, or how they walk.
The Port of Seattle has long used various forms of biometrics at its aviation and maritime
facilities - for access control and verification of employee, contractor, vendor, consultant
identity. However, biometric technology - particularly facial recognition - is increasingly being
deployed on the customer-facing side of airport and cruise operations, as both an identity
validation as well as a customer facilitation tool to speed up check-in, boarding and screening
processes.
As with any developing technology, public sector leaders have an obligation to ensure
appropriate and responsible use of not only the technology itself, but the related data that is
generated. The port commission believes proper biometric policy should balance operational
needs, business priorities and regulatory mandates with protections for the interests and rights
of passengers, employees and other visitors to our facilities.
TEXT OF THE MOTION
Port of Seattle Principles for Public-Facing Biometric Technology
The Commission hereby adopts the following principles to guide the use of public-facing
biometric technology at Port of Seattle facilities:
1) Justified: Biometric technology at port facilities should be used only for a clear intended
purpose that furthers a specific operational need. The port does not condone biometrics
Motion 2019-13, Biometrics Principles and Biometrics Working Group

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for "mass surveillance" - for example, use of facial recognition on large groups of people
without a lawful purpose, rather than single-use for travelers.
2) Voluntary: The use of biometrics to identify and validate travelers through port facilities
should be voluntary, and reasonable alternatives should be provided for those who do
not wish to participate - through a convenient "opt-in" or "opt-out" process, except in
specific situations authorized by the port or required by federal law such as U.S.
Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) entry and exit requirements for non-U.S.
citizens. Unintended capture of data by biometric technology from those travelers
opting out of such biometric data collection, or of any non-travelers or other visitors at
the airport, should be prevented; any unintended capture of this data should not be
stored.
3) Private: Data collected by biometric technology at port facilities or by port employees
from travelers through port facilities should be stored only if needed, for no longer than
required by applicable law or regulations, and should be protected against unauthorized
access. The port opposes this data being knowingly sold or used for commercial
purposes unrelated to processing travelers at port facilities without their clear and
informed consent.
4) Equitable: The port opposes discrimination or systemic bias based on religion, age,
gender, race or other demographic identifiers. Biometric technology used at port
facilities or by port employees should be reasonably accurate in identifying people of all
backgrounds, and systems should be in place to treat mismatching issues with proper
cultural sensitivity and discretion.
5) Transparent: Use of biometric technology for passenger processing at port facilities
should be communicated to visitors and travelers. Individuals should be notified about
any collection of their biometric data to facilitate travel at port facilities, and how that
data may be used, in easily understood terms. Reports on the performance and
effectiveness of the technology should also be made public to ensure accountability.
6) Lawful: Use of biometric technology and/or access to associated biometric data
collected should comply with all laws, including privacy laws and laws prohibiting
discrimination or illegal search against individuals or groups.
7) Ethical: The port and its partners should act ethically when deploying biometric
technology or handling biometric data. Ethical behavior means actions which respect
key moral principles that include honesty, fairness, equality, dignity, diversity and
individual rights. In particular, use of biometrics at port facilities should comply with
Resolution No. 3747, establishing the port's Welcoming Port Policy Directive to increase
engagement with, and support for, immigrant and refugee communities.

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These principles will apply until a more comprehensive policy is put in place, through the
working group process laid out below.
Implementation of Biometric Principles for Maritime and Aviation Use
Port leadership will implement an approval process for any proposals for new or expanded use
of public-facing biometric technology to ensure alignment with these principles. Any proposal
for new or expanded use of public-facing biometric technology will be communicated in
advance directly to the port commission and through the port's external communications
channels. The use of public-facing biometric technology at port facilities is subject at all times to
the port's requirements, which may be revised and changed following implementation of port
policies through the working group process described below. Upon implementation, the Port's
biometric policies should be incorporated into commitments or agreements governing the use
of biometric technology at Port facilities.
Because the port does not have jurisdiction over the use of biometrics by the federal
government at our facilities, the port will communicate these principles to CBP and other
federal partners such as the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Coast
Guard. We will not only notify them of our desired standards, but also work with these agencies
and Congress to ensure that federal programs in place at port facilities are aligned as closely as
possible with port policy regarding utilization of public-facing biometric technology.
Through this motion, a port working group is established to develop further recommendations
governing port policy related to use of public-facing biometric technology, which shall be
submitted to the commission by the end of the 2nd quarter of 2020. Issues to be addressed by
this working group include:
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the strategic use and objectives of biometrics;
procurement;
transparency and accountability for biometric implementation;
auditing of this technology to ensure compliance and accuracy, and auditing prior to
approval of expansion of technology;
commitments or agreements with airlines, cruise operators, and other Port tenants and
users;
handling biometric data collected and stored from the technology;
protection of personally identifying information;
data security protocols and protection from unlawful or unauthorized access;
alignment with the port's Welcoming Port Policy;
state and federal policy priorities;
outreach and public awareness strategy to prepare travelers and community members;
and any other relevant topics that arise.

In addition, the working group should develop a comprehensive list of known public-facing
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
departments: Aviation Security; Aviation Operations; Airport Innovation; Maritime Security;
Maritime Operations; Commission Office; Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion; Information
and Communications Technology; Information Security; Government Relations; Legal; and
Police. The working group shall also seek input from maritime and aviation industry partners
and other stakeholders. The policy recommendations shall be delivered to Commission by the
end of the 2nd quarter of 2020, and the Commission may create an ad hoc, limited term
Commission Committee to oversee these efforts.
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION
Due to technological advances, perceived customer benefits and federal requirements, there
will be a significant increase in public-facing facial recognition technology deployment by public
and private sector users over the next few years, including in airport and seaport settings that
will impact travelers and other visitors to our facilities. In advance of this expansion, the port
commission believes that it has an obligation to institute proper policy frameworks and clear
guidelines to reduce potential misuse and abuse, while improving public understanding of the
benefits and risks. Specifically, the port must ensure individual privacy, civil liberties, and
equity, and that biometric technology and use of the associated data is aligned with state and
federal laws intended to protect those rights.
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
to access secure or restricted areas or to permit authorized personnel access to port
facilities outside of normal business hours or in locations where there is no other
monitoring of access. In addition, many port employees are issued iPhones with
fingerprint and facial recognition as an alternative to password protection, and facial
recognition is also used on Microsoft Windows 10.

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At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), airport employees are required to
scan their fingerprint at many secure doors throughout the facility. Sea-Tac also offers
travelers the option of using CLEAR to validate the identity of a traveler as they process
through TSA checkpoints using biometric technology instead of using traditional
identification and validation methods.

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On the maritime side, biometric data is required by federal regulation for issuance of
TSA-issued Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) smart cards that are
required to access maritime facilities regulated by the U.S. Coast Guard and cruise
terminal operational areas. In addition, the cruise industry is increasingly taking
advantage of biometrics as a passenger facilitation tool; for example, Norwegian Cruise
Line and CBP have partnered for use of facial recognition for disembarkation of guests at
Pier 66.

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One of the leading drivers of the expected deployment of public-facing biometrics over the next
few years is implementation by CBP of a Congressionally mandated biometric exit-entry
screening process for international air passengers. Sea-Tac's International Arrivals Facility will
incorporate facial recognition for almost all arriving passengers (other than those U.S. citizens
who opt-out), and CBP is working with the port and its airline partners to incorporate this
technology into departing international passenger processes.
Facial recognition is also increasingly being utilized by the port's private sector partners. Delta
Air Lines opened the first full biometric airport terminal in Atlanta in November 2018, and is
working to bring aspects of their "curb to gate" experience to Sea-Tac. Similarly, many of the
port's cruise partners are working to streamline the check-in and boarding process for their
travelers through facial recognition.
Some members of the public and various advocacy organizations have expressed concerns
about the rapidly expanding use of facial recognition. These stakeholders have raised issues
around privacy, equity and civil liberties, although their main focus has been on broad law
enforcement use of this technology for "mass surveillance" rather than the kind of customer
facilitation uses that are being considered at port facilities. They support the use of appropriate
regulation to ensure protections against abuse, discrimination and unintended consequences.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ATTACHED
Presentation slides

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