Poster
09-22-2003, 04:36 PM
The Department of Homeland Security will enter mediation with the European Union today, over the Department’s demand for access to passenger information. Tom Ridge says the information is needed to prevent further terrorist attacks, but the Union feels their passenger’s privacy would be violated.
“If the Europeans push on this, they could make it very painful for the U.S. carriers, who would be caught in the middle of a political issue,'' Swire said.”
That could severely impact trade between the U.S. and Europe, not to mention devastating effects on the airline industry if an agreement cannot be reached. A few airlines used to voluntarily turn the information over, but after 9/11 the government wants to make disclosure mandatory. Europeans, who have strict confidentiality policies are refusing to cooperate, even threatening to fine airlines who release passenger data.
“The airlines were caught in the middle: If they followed U.S. law, they risked being fined by the European Union for violating EU privacy law. If they obeyed the European Union law, they risked fines from the United States.”
“If the Europeans push on this, they could make it very painful for the U.S. carriers, who would be caught in the middle of a political issue,'' Swire said.”
That could severely impact trade between the U.S. and Europe, not to mention devastating effects on the airline industry if an agreement cannot be reached. A few airlines used to voluntarily turn the information over, but after 9/11 the government wants to make disclosure mandatory. Europeans, who have strict confidentiality policies are refusing to cooperate, even threatening to fine airlines who release passenger data.
“The airlines were caught in the middle: If they followed U.S. law, they risked being fined by the European Union for violating EU privacy law. If they obeyed the European Union law, they risked fines from the United States.”