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Then the airlines should be doing the ID checks. But they don't bother, because the TSA basically does it for them.

Pretty sure the stated reason for the TSA checking IDs is to keep people on the no-fly list from flying. (Worth nothing that the no-fly list is not without its problems). It also allows trusted traveler programs to work.

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Not disagreeing with you or the OP about anything, but then this just raises the question for me of why not use facial recognition to screen against a no fly database (negative screen) than to verify identity (positive screen)? Or restrict it to trusted traveler on an opt-in basis?

The TSA approach and security paradigm in general seems poorly thought out and misguided to me sometimes.

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