S1691Referred to Committee
Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025
Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber4
Passed Both5
Signed into Law119th
Congress
2025-05-08
Introduced
5
Cosponsors
S
ⓘType
Sponsor
Jeff Merkley
Democrat · OR · Senator
Votes with party: 65.3% (323 recorded votes)
Full profile: /officials/M001176
Source: Congress.gov · FEC
Cosponsors (5)
Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.
Latest Action
The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
2025-05-08
Source: Congress.gov
Plain-English Summary
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).
Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.
Subjects
Transportation and Public Works
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