Clear Secure
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Security |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Steven Brill, Ajay Amlani |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy; relaunched in 2012 |
| Headquarters | Manhattan, New York , United States |
Key people | Caryn Seidman-Becker (co-founder), Ken Cornick (co-founder) |
| Products | Biometric identity verification systems |
Overview
Clear Secure, Inc. is a U.S.-based technology firm specializing in biometric identity verification systems deployed at numerous prominent airports and sports venues. Initially established in 2003, the company ceased operations in 2009 following bankruptcy proceedings. It was subsequently revived in 2012 and later became publicly traded in 2021.
Clear collaborates with airport authorities, operating on a model where it receives commissions based on the acquisition of new subscribers. The company has faced criticism due to security breaches that allowed individuals to bypass proper identification checks within its system. Additionally, Clear has drawn ethical concerns for facilitating expedited access to security lines primarily for affluent travelers who can afford its services, without delivering a corresponding acceleration in overall security throughput.
Founding and Early Years
Clear was initially established in 2003 as a branch of Verified Identity Pass, with Steven Brill and Ajay Amlani as its original proprietors. In 2006, Ajay Amlani departed to focus on another identity technology venture called YOU Technology. Steven Brill exited the enterprise two years later, in 2008. The company ceased operations and declared bankruptcy in 2009.
Developments in the 2010s
In 2010, Caryn Seidman-Becker, together with her partner and co-founder Ken Cornick, acquired Clear following its bankruptcy. They revitalized the business and officially relaunched it in 2012. Clear’s main office is located in Manhattan, New York.
Progress in the 2020s
Clear became a publicly traded company under the name Clear Secure, Inc. in 2021, listing on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol ‘YOU’.
In 2022, an incident occurred where a passenger using a fraudulent identity was able to pass through Clear’s verification process; the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also discovered that this individual was carrying ammunition. Clear attributed this breach to "a single human error" in an official statement. Additionally, the facial recognition system used during customer enrollment was criticized for sometimes relying on insufficient images, such as photos focusing only on the chin or shoulder.
During 2023, two more security lapses were reported involving individuals who were not registered with Clear but were still allowed through TSA checkpoints without presenting proper identification. One case involved a traveler who utilized a boarding pass retrieved from a trash receptacle.
In November 2024, Clear introduced its new EnVe Pods designed to expedite traveler verification. These pods eliminate the need for fingerprint or iris scans by employing high-resolution, wide-angle cameras for identification purposes. Clear claims this technology will accelerate the verification process by a factor of five compared to their existing system.
Business model
Clear's business approach centers on forming alliances with airports, sharing a percentage of the revenue generated at each location with these partners. For instance, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) receives 12.5% of the income Clear earns on its premises, with San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Chicago's O'Hare, and Midway International Airports receiving comparable shares.
Although Clear accelerates the security screening process for its users, the TSA PreCheck program has improved its efficiency in recent years. In certain situations, PreCheck may provide screening times that are as fast or even quicker than Clear’s service, which could diminish the perceived advantage of Clear’s offerings.
Patents
Clear holds patents related to "physical token-less security screening using biometrics," enabling identification through unique biometric data created by the company. Over time, Clear has successfully obtained multiple patents. Notably, on February 4, 2020, it secured a patent allowing ticketing via biometric identity. Earlier that year, on January 14, 2020, the company was granted two patents: one for pre-identification prior to an individual approaching a device and another for leveraging biometric identities to streamline interactions with nearby individuals. Additionally, on December 31, 2019, Clear received a patent for utilizing mobile devices to facilitate enrollment in its system.
Clear collaborates with Oberthur Technologies, a European firm that supplies identification cards embedded with data exceeding standard ID cards. These cards comply with the NIST standard FIPS 201 (Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 201) for Personal Identity Verification (PIV), a mandate for all U.S. government personnel and contractors.
Marketing and collaborations
Clear maintains partnerships with several airlines and sports venues. Its airline collaborations include Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. The company also works with Major League Baseball and the National Football League to integrate biometric technology.
A partnership with Lyft offers customers a three-month free trial of Clear services along with a $20 voucher redeemable toward Lyft rides to any airport.
In April 2023, Clear expanded into digital identity verification services tailored for LinkedIn users. Verified members can display a distinctive green and blue checkmark on their profiles.
Previously, Clear partnered with car rental company Hertz until Hertz filed for bankruptcy.
Clear is affiliated with industry groups including the FIDO Alliance and the CARIN Alliance. In June 2012, it earned certification under the SAFETY Act (Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Revenue
CLEAR offers an annual subscription called CLEAR Plus, priced at $199, with discounted rates available for individuals affiliated with Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, or holders of select American Express cards such as the Centurion, Platinum, or Green Card. This membership grants users the advantage of potentially bypassing lengthy queues at venues including stadiums, arenas, and airports.[1] In addition to expanding its footprint across various locations, Clear generates supplementary income through licensing agreements with professional sports franchises.[2]
Security incidents
Concerns regarding Clear’s security protocols have drawn scrutiny from the House Homeland Security Committee. In December 2022, representatives Bennie Thompson and John Katko urged the TSA to mandate identity verification for all travelers, including those enrolled in Clear. Subsequently, in August 2023, TSA recommended that Clear and its partnering airports increase the frequency of ID checks conducted by TSA personnel.[3]
Ethical criticism
Clear has faced criticism for allowing affluent passengers who can afford its service to circumvent standard airport security lines. David Zipper, writing for Slate, contended that Clear essentially asks travelers to pay a fee and submit biometric data in exchange for priority access to a critical government service.[4] He distinguished Clear’s offering from TSA PreCheck, which benefits all passengers by expediting the general security process. Additionally, he highlighted concerns over commissions paid to airports, suggesting these create a perverse incentive to degrade the experience for travelers not using Clear.[5]
Legislators have introduced measures aimed at restricting Clear’s line-skipping privileges. North Carolina Representative Wiley Nickel remarked to Slate that airport security is a fundamental government responsibility supported by taxpayers and emphasized the need for equitable access regardless of one’s ability to pay for expedited passage.[5] Furthermore, a 2024 legislative proposal authored by California State Senator Josh Newman seeks to prohibit Clear from allowing members to bypass queues in airports throughout California.[6]