EU approves data sharing agreement with the US
The European Parliament has finally approved a controversial new agreement to transfer air passengers personal data to US authorities in their fight against terrorism.
The European Parliament has finally approved a controversial new agreement to transfer air passengers personal data to US authorities in their fight against terrorism.
Under the agreement, airlines flying from the EU into the US will need to share Passenger Name Record (PNR) data about all their passengers with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the purpose of the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorism and certain transnational crimes.
The agreement replaces a provisional arrangement, in place since 2007, and will apply for seven years.
PNR data includes addresses, mobile phone numbers, email addresses and credit card details along with sensitive data like ethnic origin, religious beliefs and sexual orientation.
US authorities will store this information in an active database for five years and move it to a dormant database for up to ten years, with stricter access requirements for US officials. After the first six months, data such as a passengers name or contact information, would be made anonymous.