Europe Agrees To Send Airline Passenger Data To US

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Europe Agrees To Send Airline Passenger Data To US

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday April 19, 2012 @06:44PM 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.'"

18 of 403 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Why? by Zapotek · 2012-04-19 18:46 · Score: 5, Insightful

Why comply? What would the US do, deny entrance to all EU citizens?
Anyone care to explain this?
1. Re:Why? by polar+red · 2012-04-19 18:48 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  deny entrance to all EU citizens?
  this agreement has the same effect on me - I will never travel to the US.
  
  --
  Yes, I'm left. You have a problem with that?
2. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-19 18:50 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  The article says that's exactly what the US threatened. To require a visa for any European entering the US. I think if I were an EU politician, I would be inclined to threaten to do exactly the same to them. But apparently two thirds of them disagree with me. Pity.
3. Re:Why? by aaaaaaargh! · 2012-04-19 20:47 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I think they basically blackmailed the EU, threatening to require Visa for all Europeans, announcing special controls and harassment of European travelers if they EU would not comply, etc.
  It is well-known European politicians have no backbone and comply to US demands any time when a tiny bit of pressure is put on them. There are numerous examples and this is just one of them. :(
4. Re:Why? by Rogerborg · 2012-04-19 21:00 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I will never travel to the US
  Just so we're clear, everybody who has ever said this had no intention nor need to travel to the USA anyway.
  Hans Ze Vacationer doesn't care. Jean le Commerce has no choice. You can't fight this with a boycott.
  
  --
  If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
5. Re:Why? by 1s44c · 2012-04-19 21:54 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Just so we're clear, everybody who has ever said this had no intention nor need to travel to the USA anyway.
  I had the intention. I travel to lots of countries to see the sights, stay in the hotels, and eat at the restaurants, Most countries value tourists as they bring in money, the US treats them like criminals. I really won't overstay my visa, I have more than enough money to support myself, and I sure as hell won't hurt or damage anyone or anything.
  They don't want me there? That's a shame, I'll go to the far east and pig out on seafood instead.
6. Re:Why? by jawtheshark · 2012-04-19 22:10 · 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)
7. Re:Why? by 19thNervousBreakdown · 2012-04-20 01:12 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I had the intention. I travel to lots of countries to see the sights, stay in the hotels, and eat at the restaurants, Most countries value tourists as they bring in money, the US treats them like criminals.
  What, you don't like the native experience?
  
  --
  <xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
8. Re:Why? by camperdave · 2012-04-20 02:05 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  And you've joined the list of people who think hyperbole has a place in a serious discussion. Everyone was already required to provide this information before entering the US anyway. Now they just get it from the airlines.
  No. Now they get it no matter where you are travelling. Flying from Paris to Rome? US gets the data. Madrid to London? Uncle Sam hears about it. Even if you never have any plans to ever visit the States, they will have a record of every flight you ever took.
  
  --
  When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
Re:Fuck this. Fuck EVERYTHING about this by Zsub · 2012-04-19 18:57 · Score: 5, Insightful

First Europe sends banking info, passenger info, what will come? And there, for a moment, I believed Europe stopped being America's bitch. I'm voting... No wait, I don't know what or who I'm voting, because all parties I somewhat agree with agree with this shit. Fuck.
Re:Fuck this. Fuck EVERYTHING about this by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-19 19:01 · Score: 5, Insightful

Vore for your local Pirate Party. I've heard they're at 12% in the polls in Germany. Let's repeat that in all our European countries. EU is not a state in the US.
And by "depersonalized" and "dormant" they mean... by matunos · 2012-04-19 19:04 · Score: 5, Insightful

...absolutely nothing.
As this violates... by w4rl5ck · 2012-04-19 19:07 · 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 · 2012-04-19 19:20 · 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. Re:As this violates... by peppepz · 2012-04-19 20:19 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  This law is about creating an automated database of the movements of every single citizen to be sent to a foreign power, which is known for having little respect for foreigners, to the point of kidnapping people even inside the EU and torturing them.
  On the other hand, I can't think of a single reason why I wouldn't want the government to know how much money I have in the bank, unless it's coming from illegal activities. What could a deranged government do with that information? Make me pay taxes?
Only one-way transfer? by Rotaluclac · 2012-04-19 19:34 · 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
What routes? And why transfer data at all? by Alwin+Henseler · 2012-04-19 19:46 · Score: 5, Insightful

Yet another reason for me not to set foot on an aircraft bound for the United States.
Might make no difference... The way I'm reading the article, it says "requires European airlines to pass on passenger information", without going into detail about whether that's US-bound flights only, flights within the EU, flights from EU to outside EU (but not US), or even any flight, from/to anywhere, done by an EU-based airline company. It would be good if someone could clear this up.
Secondly I don't see why passenger data would need to be transferred to US control at all. It's really naive to assume that the US will handle such data as agreed. Good chance it will end up in multiple databases, and possibly used at will (since under US control), in violation of agreement. What safeguards has the EU to the contrary? Any?
Of course the US wants some persons not to board an airplane, why not arrange for the US to provide that watchlist to an EU-controlled organization that checks this watchlist against passenger data? Flag & possibly take action on matches, data for people that don't set off any flags then wouldn't need to be transferred to the US (that is, other than what's done already in US-bound flights).
All this reads to me as: EU doesn't care about its citizens' privacy & lets itself be bullied by the US. Annoying - the EU is not even 1 sovereign nation, it's a whole group of sovereign nations. Combined a bigger population than the US. Our politicians should really show some more backbone.
Source is here... by UnoriginalBoringNick · 2012-04-20 00:36 · Score: 5, Insightful

17434/11 - Agreement between the United States of America and the European Union on the use and transfer of Passenger Name Records to the United States Department of Homeland Security

ARTICLE 2
Scope
1.
PNR, as set forth in the Guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization, shall
mean the record created by air carriers or their authorized agents for each journey booked by or on
behalf of any passenger and contained in carriers' reservation systems, departure control systems, or
equivalent systems providing similar functionality (collectively referred to in this Agreement as
"reservation systems"). Specifically, as used in this Agreement, PNR consists of the data types set
forth in the Annex to this Agreement ("Annex").
2.
This Agreement shall apply to carriers operating passenger flights between the
European Union and the United States.
3.
This Agreement shall also apply to carriers incorporated or storing data in the
European Union and operating passenger flights to or from the United States.
ARTICLE 3
Provision of PNR
The Parties agree that carriers shall provide PNR contained in their reservation systems to DHS as
required by and in accordance with DHS standards and consistent with this Agreement. Should
PNR transferred by carriers include data beyond those listed in the Annex, DHS shall delete such
data upon receipt.
Article 2 Item 1 Defines PNR as being data gathered for any flight, anywhere
Article 2 Items 2 and 3 Specify that carriers who must comply are those who operate flights to the USA even if they are incorporated and store their data - in Europe
The data in the Annex - mentioned in Article 2 Item 1 and Article 3 is as follows:

ANNEX
PNR Data Types
1. PNR record locator code
2. Date of reservation/issue of ticket
3. Date(s) of intended travel
4. Name(s)
5. Available frequent flier and benefit information (i.e., free tickets, upgrades, etc.)
6. Other names on PNR, including number of travelers on PNR
7. All available contact information (including originator information)
8. All available payment/billing information (not including other transaction details linked to a credit card or account and not connected to the travel transaction)
9. Travel itinerary for specific PNR
10. Travel agency/travel agent
11. Code share information
12. Split/divided information
13. Travel status of passenger (including confirmations and check-in status)
14. Ticketing information, including ticket number, one way tickets and Automated Ticket Fare Quote
15. All baggage information
16. Seat information, including seat number
17. General remarks including OSI, SSI and SSR information
18. Any collected APIS information
19. All historical changes to the PNR listed under points 1 to 18
I have seen nothing in the agreement that limits the data gathering to flights to / from the USA
If anyone finds wording to contradict me please reply.