You hand your license to the TSA officer, and instead of looking at you, they point at a small camera on a stand and ask you to look into it. A second later a green check appears and you are waved through.
That is CAT-2, and most travelers go through it without ever being told they had a choice. You did. TSA’s own policy says the face scan is voluntary and that declining it carries no penalty, but the policy is communicated on a placard that almost nobody reads while managing a boarding pass, a carry-on, and a kid.
Here is what the camera actually does, what happens to the image, and exactly how to opt out.
What CAT-2 Actually Does
CAT-2 stands for Credential Authentication Technology with Camera. The unit does two jobs at once:
- Authenticates your ID. It reads the barcode and security features on your license or passport and checks whether the document is genuine and whether you are on a flight that day. This part is not optional, and it is the same check the machine performed before cameras were added.
- Matches your live image to the photo on your ID. The camera captures your face and compares it to the portrait embedded in the document you just handed over.
The second step is the one people object to, and it is worth being precise about what it is, because the common fear is not quite the right fear.
This is a 1:1 verification, not a 1:many search. The system is comparing your face to the photo on the ID in the officer’s hand. It is not running your face against a database of known individuals, and it is not a surveillance dragnet matching travelers against a watchlist gallery. It answers one question: is the person standing here the person on this document?
That distinction matters because it defines the real risk. The privacy concern with CAT-2 is not that it identifies you today. It is the normalization of a biometric checkpoint, the accuracy gap that facial matching systems have historically shown across demographic groups, and what a future policy change could do with infrastructure that is already installed in every lane.
Where the images go
TSA’s stated policy is that the captured image is deleted immediately after the match completes. It is not added to a database, not retained for later use, and not shared for law enforcement purposes.
The stated exception is limited testing. In specific, identified evaluation environments, TSA has retained images for a limited period to assess how well the system performs, with that data going to the DHS Science and Technology Directorate. Those locations are supposed to be disclosed on site.
You are relying on TSA’s word here. That is exactly why the opt-out exists, and why using it is a reasonable choice rather than a paranoid one.
How to Opt Out of the TSA Face Scan
The procedure is genuinely simple, and it is one sentence.
Say: “I decline the photo.”
That is it. The officer performs a standard manual ID check instead, comparing your face to your license the way a human has always done it. Your ID still goes through the CAT machine for document authentication, because that part is not the biometric step.
Three things TSA policy says should be true when you decline:
- No additional screening. Opting out is not a trigger for a pat-down, a bag search, or SSSS on your boarding pass.
- No loss of PreCheck. Declining does not affect your membership or your lane.
- No meaningful delay. A manual ID check takes seconds.
There is supposed to be signage at every CAT-2 podium stating that the photo is optional and explaining how to decline. If you do not see one, that is worth noting, and it is the single most common complaint travelers raise about the program.
If an officer pushes back
It happens, usually from inconsistent training rather than bad faith. Repeat the request calmly and once: “I am declining the photo. I would like the standard ID check.” If that does not resolve it, ask for a supervisor. You are not asking for a favor or an exception, you are asking for the documented standard procedure.
Do not escalate at the podium beyond that. Take the name or badge number and file a complaint afterward through TSA’s contact center. The checkpoint is a bad place to litigate policy, and the person in front of you does not write it.
Three Face Scans That Are Not the Same Thing
Travelers conflate these constantly, and the opt-out rules differ sharply between them.
TSA CAT-2 at the ID podium. Domestic and international departures. Voluntary for everyone. Decline verbally and get a manual check.
CBP biometric exit and entry at the gate or arrivals hall. This is Customs and Border Protection, not TSA, and it is a different program with a different legal basis. US citizens and lawful permanent residents may opt out by telling an officer or airline agent and presenting a passport for manual inspection. Most foreign nationals cannot opt out, because biometric entry and exit is a statutory requirement for them. If you are connecting internationally, this is a separate camera with separate rules. Our guide to connecting flights and security rescreening covers the rest of that journey.
Opt-in programs: PreCheck Touchless ID and CLEAR. These are the opposite situation. You affirmatively enrolled, you gave a photo on purpose, and the biometric is the product. TSA PreCheck Touchless ID matches you against a DHS gallery photo from your passport or Global Entry record with participating airlines. CLEAR uses your eyes and fingerprints at its own podium. Neither is something you are opted into without consent. Our CLEAR vs TSA PreCheck comparison covers whether either is worth paying for.
Where the Policy Is Headed
TSA began deploying camera-equipped CAT units in 2022, had them at roughly 80 airports by 2024, and has stated an intent to expand the technology across the more than 400 federalized airports it screens. Deployment is uneven lane by lane, not just airport by airport, so you may hit a camera at one checkpoint in a terminal and a plain CAT unit at the next.
The program has drawn sustained congressional scrutiny. A bipartisan group of senators introduced the Traveler Privacy Protection Act, which would halt TSA’s facial recognition program and require congressional authorization to restart it. It has been introduced across multiple sessions and has not become law. As of now, the program continues and the opt-out remains the only individual control you have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you refuse a TSA face scan?
Yes. TSA policy states that the photo at the CAT-2 podium is voluntary for all travelers. Tell the officer you decline the photo and they will perform a standard manual ID check instead.
Does opting out of facial recognition cause extra screening?
No. TSA states that declining the photo does not result in additional screening, a pat-down, or loss of TSA PreCheck benefits. The manual ID check takes only a few extra seconds.
Does TSA store your face scan?
TSA states the image is deleted immediately after the match, with a limited exception for identified test locations where images are retained temporarily to evaluate system performance. It is not added to a searchable database or shared with law enforcement under current policy.
Is TSA facial recognition matching me against a watchlist?
No. CAT-2 performs a 1:1 comparison between your live image and the photo on the ID you presented. It is not searching a gallery of faces to determine who you are.
Can non-US citizens opt out of facial recognition?
At the TSA checkpoint, yes, the photo is voluntary for everyone. At CBP biometric entry and exit, which is a separate program, most foreign nationals are required to participate, while US citizens and lawful permanent residents may opt out.
Do children have to do the TSA face scan?
The photo is voluntary for all travelers regardless of age, and travelers under 18 are not required to present ID at all. See our flying with kids TSA guide for the rest of the family screening rules.
Is CAT-2 the same as TSA PreCheck Touchless ID?
No. CAT-2 is the camera at the ID podium that everyone encounters. Touchless ID is a separate opt-in program with participating airlines that matches you against a photo you already provided to DHS.
Know the Line Before You Reach the Podium
Whether you take the photo or decline it changes your wait by a few seconds. What actually determines whether you make your flight is how long the line was before you got there.
Look up your airport on Airport TSA Times to see when its checkpoints are busiest, from TSA’s own hourly counts, including LAX, JFK, ATL, DEN, SFO, and ORD. If you are deciding what time to leave, start with what time to arrive at the airport.