Viral Twitter exchange highlights privacy concerns with facial recognition technology at airports

Facial recognition technology at airports is being called into question after a viral Twitter exchange highlighted the privacy concerns associated with the systems, which are rapidly being deployed by airlines across the U.S. Writer MacKenzie Fegan was startled when her photo was taken by facial recognition cameras as she boarded her international JetBlue flight. Fegan confronted JetBlue about the experience in a lengthy Twitter thread, asking questions about how the system operated, but the airline didn't provide many answers. It comes as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently said it hopes to expand use of facial recognition at airports to scan 97 percent of all passengers departing the country by 2023. 'I just boarded an international @JetBlue flight,' Fegan wrote on Twitter. 'Instead of scanning my boarding pass or handing over my passport, I looked into a camera before being allowed down the jet bridge.