A CLEAR Path to the Front of the Line

Key Takeaways

Private company CLEAR charges approximately $200 annually for expedited airport security, using biometrics to bypass initial ID checks.
CLEAR faced early challenges including a 2008 data breach and bankruptcy, but relaunched in 2010 with a broader biometric vision.
Recent security incidents led the TSA to implement new rules requiring some CLEAR users to show ID, challenging the service's core promise.
Airports receive revenue percentages from CLEAR, creating financial incentives for partnerships despite equity concerns regarding paid access to public services.

CLEAR is a biometrics company charging approximately $200 per year for expedited airport security screening.
The service uses facial or fingerprint scans to verify identity, with CLEAR employees then escorting customers to the front of TSA lines.
One traveler, David Zipper, observed CLEAR customers being ushered to the front of security lines during peak travel, leading him to protest the perceived line-cutting privilege.
Zipper's article criticizing CLEAR went viral, highlighting public sentiment about perceived unfairness in public services.

The trend of private companies integrating into public services accelerated in the 1970s and continued, with the Trump administration emphasizing business efficiency and increasing privatization efforts.
Following the 9/11 attacks, the TSA was established to standardize airport security, but faced initial chaos and traveler dissatisfaction.
In 2004, the TSA piloted private company involvement to identify low-risk flyers; CLEAR launched in 2005 as part of this Registered Traveler Program.
While public-private partnerships can foster innovation, concerns exist about permanent integration of private entities into critical public systems.

In 2008, CLEAR experienced a data breach involving 33,000 users and a missing laptop, leading to investor mistrust and its bankruptcy in 2009 after the government ended the Trusted Traveler program.
CLEAR relaunched in 2010 under new ownership, expanding its vision to embed biometric technology across various daily life aspects beyond just airports, from health records to purchases.
Clear's executive vice president for aviation, Kyle McLaughlin, described the system as a privacy-centric, opt-in service designed for frictionless, multi-factor identity verification.
Concerns regarding the security of personal data persisted, especially after other companies like 23andMe faced breaches; Clear stated strict policies, non-selling of data, and user control.

Since its relaunch, CLEAR has had two security incidents, including a 2022 event where an individual with a false identity used CLEAR and was later found with ammunition.
Reports indicated system vulnerabilities, such as employees overriding flagged IDs and a 2023 incident where an unverified person was escorted through security by a CLEAR employee.
In response to incidents, the TSA implemented new rules in 2023, requiring a percentage of CLEAR customers to show ID to TSA agents, which some argue contradicts CLEAR's primary benefit.
Airports maintain partnerships with CLEAR due to financial incentives, with LAX earning approximately $5 million in 2023 from the company.

The TSA now offers enhanced programs like PreCheck with similar expedited screening and biometric verification at a lower cost, raising questions about the necessity of private services like CLEAR.
Some CLEAR customers report that their dedicated lines are not always the fastest option, and usage has reportedly decreased at certain airports amidst multiple security line choices.
The core issue remains the perceived inequity of allowing individuals to pay for expedited access to government-mandated security processes, transforming citizens into customers.
Professor Michael Sandel of Harvard argues that allocating access to public services based on payment fundamentally changes citizenship and erodes the principle of equal status for the public good.