Facial recognition systems used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security make "frequent mistakes," a report from Georgetown Law's Center on Privacy and Technology released on Thursday said.

Six major airports in the United States are participating in pilot programs that require Americans traveling abroad to submit to facial-recognition scans when leaving the country, the Associated Press reported. Airports in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, New York City and Washington, D.C. have all started to implement the biometric scanning procedures, with plans to expand the program to a number of other high-volume international airports across the country by the start of next year. News of the biometric scans being active at airports and used to scan American citizens prior to boarding their flights is the latest development in the increased effort by the Donald Trump administration to implement strong vetting procedures for those coming and going from the country. U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Larry Panetta spoke about adoption of facial recognition technology earlier this year at the Border Security Expo, where he suggested there was already enough information in the government's systems that facial recognition technology could already identify many travelers. "We currently have everyone's photo, so we don't need to do any sort of enrollment," Panetta said at the event.

Multiple members of Congress have come out against a plan from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to incorporate facial recognition provider ID.me into its processes this summer. The White House continues to ignore requests for comment, but Congressman Ted Lieu, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke sent a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig on Monday demanding the agency "halt its plan to employ facial recognition technology and consult with a wide variety of stakeholders before deciding on an alternative." While robust passwords help you secure your valuable online accounts, hardware-based two-factor authentication takes that security to the next level. "Any government agency operating a face recognition technology system -- or contracting with a third party -- creates potential risks of privacy violations and abuse. We urge the IRS to halt this plan and consult with a wide variety of stakeholders before deciding on an alternative," the Congress members wrote.

Many airports hope to start using biometric scanners in lieu of passports to identify travelers. Buzz60's Tony Spitz has the details. The next time you go to the airport you might notice something different as part of the security process: A machine scanning your face to verify your identity. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been working with airlines to implement biometric face scanners in domestic airports to better streamline security. But how does the process work?

Is this an invasion of privacy or fair practice to protect our country? Former DHS oversight counsel Mike Howell weighs in. The Trump administration announced Thursday that it's backing away from a proposal that would have required all U.S. citizens to submit to facial recognition scans at airports and other ports of entry whenever they leave or enter the country. The Department of Homeland Security said it removed the idea from its regulatory agenda following meetings with advocates and lawmakers who voiced serious privacy concerns for American citizens. U.S. passport holders can opt out of being photographed upon entering or exiting the country, a process that is required for foreign travelers.