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Europe Agrees To Send Airline Passenger Data To US

Posted by samzenpus on from the naming-names dept.

Qedward writes "The European Parliament has approved the controversial data transfer agreement, the bilateral PNR (passenger name register), with the US which requires European airlines to pass on passenger information, including name, contact details, payment data, itinerary, email and phone numbers to the Department of Homeland Security. Under the new agreement, PNR data will be 'depersonalized' after six months and would be moved into a 'dormant database' after five years. However the information would still be held for a further 15 years before being fully 'anonymized.'"

4 of 403 comments (clear)

  1. As this violates... by w4rl5ck · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ... the German "constitution" (actually we dont have one, its called Grundgesetz, but never the less) and some public laws in Germany, I'm curious how the German government is thinking to get away with letting this pass.

    In other words: German people have a government guaranty that something like this does never happen with their data. Go one "democratic" level up, and that's gone - cant happen.

    I'm curious how far this is in line with the (interpreting of) the EU constitution (which is finally in place for a few years, but that took some kind of precaution to make sure it's vague enough here and there...).

    If the pirate party jumps on this, things will likely go crazy.

    1. Re:As this violates... by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Same way the internet police state law (aka "Vorratsdatenspeicherung") was treated. It will be implemented and then they pray and hope it survives the Constitution Court.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. Only one-way transfer? by Rotaluclac · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Europe sends data about all financial transactions to the US. Does the US send data about all financial transactions to Europe?

    Europe sends data about all airline passengers to the US. Does the US send data about all airline passengers to Europe?

    Long ago I thought we were equal. Obviously, one of us is more equal than the other

  3. Re:Why? by jawtheshark · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Oh, Hans Ze Vacationer does care, at least those who are informed a bit. When Bush was in power, I told my wife: I won't go to the US as long as Bush is in power, halfway expecting the insanity would end after is reign. It didn't. While discussing vacations recently, my wife brought up the US (We saw a really nice documentary about San Fransisco and I've been there and I'd love to take my wife) and I said "no". She didn't understand as Bush was gone, and I told her we basically have no rights at all there. Calmed her down a bit.

    Jean le Commerce is a tough nut. Yes, if he's dealing with US corporations, he probably has no choice. However, many International companies now already start to make sure conferences and meetings are done outside of the US to avoid the risk of laptops being ceized, and employees being held. That's a business risk, whether you like it or not.

    --
    Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)