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TSA Stores Airline Passenger Data

By TChris, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Mon Jun 20, 2005 at 02:14:48 PM EST
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by TChris

Congress told TSA not to collect personal data on air travelers, and TSA said it wouldn't. TSA lied.

A Transportation Security Administration contractor used three data brokers to collect detailed information about U.S. citizens who flew on commercial airlines in June 2004 in order to test a terrorist screening program called Secure Flight, according to documents that will be published in the Federal Register this week.

The contractor, EagleForce Associates, then combined the passenger name records with commercial data from three contractors that included first, last and middle names, home address and phone number, birthdate, name suffix, second surname, spouse first name, gender, second address, third address, ZIP code and latitude and longitude of address. EagleForce then produced CD-ROMS containing the information "and provided those CD-ROMS to TSA for use in watch list match testing," the documents said.

TSA apparently violated the Privacy Act as well as its promise not to retain personal data about airline passengers.

"I'm just floored," said Tim Sparapani, a privacy lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union. "This is like creating an FBI file, not just some simple check, and then they're storing the data."

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    TSA Stores Airline Passenger Data | 5 comments (5 topical)
    Re: TSA Stores Airline Passenger Data (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:16 PM EST
    Liars, Liars, pants on fire! This administration's slacks are burning hotter in more areas than an inept arsonist with a leaky can.

    Re: TSA Stores Airline Passenger Data (none / 0) (#2)
    by legion on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:16 PM EST
    A sure sign of how far Bush's star has fallen will be whether or not Congress actually pursues this. It's a pretty blatant power struggle that's going on, and ever since 9-11 Congress has totally abandoned its role of balancing the Executive. Wonder when the camel's back will break...

    Re: TSA Stores Airline Passenger Data (none / 0) (#3)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:17 PM EST
    These liars are in charge of airport security? Somehow I don't have that secure feeling as I prepare for my next flight later this month. Besides, if anything happens, they'll just lie! Slicker than snot.

    Re: TSA Stores Airline Passenger Data (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:18 PM EST
    Go greyhound, amtrak, or ocean liner. It takes longer, but you emerge from your journey with your privacy and dignity intact.

    Re: TSA Stores Airline Passenger Data (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:21 PM EST
    et al.... If advanced screening will get me through the airport security jungle faster...I'm all for it. I have nothing to hide. If you all think that your credit card company.... the major store you shop in...any business you have done 'on line' ...etc..etc isn't kept in a data base somewhere ...you are all living in a dream world. Yes... I know it's all Bush's fault...everything was just great until he showed up. That aside... get over it & get on with your lives. Is there anything you guys won't complain about?

    TSA Stores Airline Passenger Data | 5 comments (5 topical)