Alclear

Steven Brill was the owner of Verified Identity Pass, who was running CLEAR at the time. After stepping away from the company in 2008 Steven Brill gave an announcement to the customers regarding CLEAR and their future “I am deeply saddened for Clear’s dedicated staff and loyal customers that the company has ceased operations”. The email was sent out to all employees and customers of CLEAR. [6]

Caryn Seidman-Becker took over Clear in 2010 with her partner and co-founder Ken Cornick. Caryn Seidman-Becker ultimately overlooks everything that is being done in the company such as the overall approach the company takes, marketing, and business development. Clear operates out of its headquarters in Manhattan, New York. Clear began to work under the larger company of Alclear. [7]

Caryn Seidman-Becker and Ken Cornick saw Clear as a promising business to pursue based on the fact that they believed the market for surveillance and security would rise due to the catastrophic events that happened on 9/11.[7]

Fingerprints and iris/face scans are examples of biometric data collection.

Biometric identification is conducted through the evaluation of a person’s physical and behavioral characteristics. There are three different ways, in which someone can authenticate themselves, including possession (ids, keys), secret knowledge(passwords/pins), and appearance (face, fingerprints). The two main authentication methods are verification, where a person confirms him/herself through distinctive characteristics, and identification, where a person is compared to other people to determine if any characteristics match them. [8]

Alclear uses biometric identification as a means to shorten long lines-whether it be at airports or sports games. The process to register lasts a couple minutes and the only requirements are to be over the age of 18 and a U.S. citizen/legal resident. You can register for the price of $179 per year. Once registered, Alclear obtains your fingerprints and scans your irises and face to create a distinctive biometric identity. When you show up at one of the valid Alclear locations, you present a government-issued idea (driver’s license, passport, etc.) for authentication. In a matter of seconds, you are authenticated and are able to skip the long lines entirely. [4] Clear uses an identification process to confirm who their customers are. They scan the iris of an individual as well as taking fingerprint biometrics. They then match it with the card the user is given to confirm this is their identity.[9] They use identity systems and identification databases in order to keep track of their customers, their identities, and their biometrics. Their Patent US10521652B1 allows the company to use their customers identification through their biometrics and their identification card. This technology allows AlClear to identify their customers either through their identification card or their biometrics, then enroll their customers in an identity system.[10]

When Clear went under AlClear bought them out along with any technology the company had; this included kiosks that were stationed in airports. These kiosks determine the identity of a customer before they walk up to the AlClear using biometrics and their digital representation. This allows AlClear to act accordingly to what their identification profile says. [10] Biometric Ticketing allows a person's biometrics to be tied in with their tickets and any other boarding passes. Searching for a person's digital representation not only brings up their ticketing information but also their identity.[10]

Clear has locations throughout the United States, some major cities they are located in are Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Houston. They have over 50 locations that vary from airports to sporting event venues.

In June of 2012, CLEAR received certification under the SAFETY Act by the United States Department of Homeland Security. Now, CLEAR is officially certified as an “anti-terrorism technology” under the SAFETY Act (Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002). [18]

CLEAR, under Alclear, uses stadiums and airports to deploy these anti-terrorist procedures. Because of the increasing amount of security in these areas, CLEAR offers “the equivalent of express security lanes”. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and Boston Marathon bombings in 2013, the Department of Homeland Security has continuously shown encouragement for stricter security measures. CLEAR continues to shorten long lines, which is important to anti-terrorist strategies, as shorter lines are less prone to terrorist attacks. [19]

However, under the desire for more security and creating environments that are least likely for terrorist attacks, several companies have made additional profits from customers. In 2014, the San Francisco Giants were the first to use CLEAR, where they collected biometric data to formulate predictions about customers, including (but not limited to) their purchasing habits, arrival times to games, and relative popularity of games. [19] Despite selling data collection for its growth strategies, CLEAR claims to make safety and efficiency its top priority for its customers. [20]

The opposition program against CLEAR, TSA PreCheck

The company, CLEAR, operates under Alclear, in which members pay $179 per year for membership. This cost of membership allows them to skip past long lines, whether they be at stadiums/arenas, airports, or concerts. [21] By expanding and diversifying their locations, CLEAR also receives additional revenue from teams, who pay licensing fees. [22] CLEAR’s competing company, TSA’s PreCheck program only charges its customers $85 for a five-year membership; however, after receiving certification under the SAFETY Act, the company continues to strive even by charging more. [23]

Clear is working on a partnership with the airline company Delta, that allows its customers to cut the security line, have their bags checked in by Delta employees, and have access to the Sky Club Lounge. The Sky Club Lounge is a lounge where frequent Delta customers can socialize prior to their flight.

Delta Airlines partners with Clear.

Clear is also working with specific sports teams that allow their customers to purchase items from the concessions stands including alcoholic beverages through their fingerprints. This program is being used by sports teams of Seattle which include the Seahawks (NFL Team), Sounders (MLS Team), and the Mariners (MLB).

Clear has also partnered with Lyft which grants people a 3-month free trial to test out Clear and gives them a $20 voucher for Lyft customers to use towards a trip to any airport. [20]

Clear has the fear of security breach worrying customers and companies alike, considering its database is filled with thousands of their customers' biometrics. In 2008 before being bought out a laptop was stolen from the company with unencrypted information from 33,000 customers.[24]

Despite the promised expedition through airport crowds and the special status that one believes to have under AlClear, in reality many travelers and subscribers don’t feel like they're getting much out of their subscription. After confirming a person's identity with Alclear with a person's “biometrically encoded card”,[9] the person still has to go through TSA and go through their security efforts. Critics of AlClear call out how easy it is for these “security companies” to take a user's biometrics, without much knowledge as to where and who their information is going to. Users put their faith in companies like AlClear to handle their personal information to themselves and use it only for the purposes of the business model. [4] India Mckineey, Deputy Director of Federal Affairs at the Electronic Frontier Foundation argues that the data Clear is not 100% safe, there will always be the fear and threat of a hacking. She wonders if giving your biometrics up for the ability to cut the line at the airport or a stadium is worth it.[24]

In June 2019, Clear CEO Caryn Seidman-Becker and President Ken Cornick were given the 2019 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award for the New York Region.[25]