Question Period Note: United States Transportation Security Administration Measures to Implement Gender-Neutral Screening at Checkpoints

United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Announcing Measures to Implement Gender-Neutral Screening at its Checkpoints

• The safety and security of the transportation sector and its users continue to be Transport Canada’s highest priority.
• Transport Canada continues to work closely with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) on the implementation of gender neutral passenger screening technology.
• We are currently testing a new TSA agorithm for Full Body Scanners, which is the only tested algorithm available on the market to date.
• CATSA will continue to consult with diverse communities to develop screening procedures that are both effective and free of bias.

If Pressed

• Transport Canada acknowledges that systems and processes must be improved, to allow travellers to safely navigate the screening process while living according to their gender identity.
• Transport Canada continues to work with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and the Transportation Security Administration on the implementation of gender neutral screening technologies, including incorporating gender neutral algorithms into screening equipment currently in use.

• On March 31, 2022, the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced new standards for screening transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming airline passengers at TSA checkpoints to improve the screening experience for all passengers.
• According to the TSA, an opportunity to improve the Advanced Imaging Technology units in airport checkpoints was identified, and the Agency is working with the manufacturer on an algorithm update that increases accuracy and efficiency.
• The TSA belives replacing the current, gender-based Advanced Imaging Technology system with this new, more accurate algorithm will also advance civil rights and improve the customer experience of travelers who previously have been required to undergo additional screening due to alarms in sensitive areas.
• Advanced Imaging Technology is used by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) in its Full Body Scanners. This equipment requires the screening officer to select the gender of the passenger. If the passenger self-identifies as transgender, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming, there is a chance for higher false alarm rates which require secondary screening. A change in the algorithm would be required to allow for gender neutral screening.
• According to the TSA, the move to this new system will happen in two parts – scenario-based training followed by the upgrade of the equipment to include a gender neutral algorithm. The TSA has only recently approved this algorithm for deployment at its checkpoints, and deployment is soon starting in the US.
• Transport Canada and CATSA are also working together to test this new algoritm, to ensure it has good detection capabilities while reducing false alarm rates. A concept of operation for a trial at an airport is currently being developed.

Location: National