EDRI - Airline Passenger Data

“Rebuilding Trust in EU – US Data Flows” - some lowlights

bogdan — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 18:25:45 +0000

On 27 November 2013, the European Commission finally published its Communication on the “Safe Harbor” agreement as part of a broader package on EU/US data flows.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the Communication was the statement that the PNR agreement and other data sharing agreements work without substantiating any of those claims. Simply asking the United States if they breached the existing rules and blandly stating, in the absence of any credible evidence, that the agreements on passenger name records (PNR) and financial data tracking (TFTP) “meet the common security interests of the EU and US, whilst providing a high level of protection of personal data” provides no new information and offers no new insights.

Press release: EDRi and FREE urge European Parliament to bring an end to lawless surveillance

joe — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 09:49:44 +0000

Civil society groups European Digital Rights (EDRi) and the Fundamental Rights European Experts Group (FREE) have demanded an end to lawless spying on individuals around the globe. At a meeting with the Chair of the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee today, the two groups handed over a document (pdf) containing detailed analysis of the current European and US legal frameworks. The document will be submitted to all relevant policy-making and governmental bodies.

In light of recent revelations, which have profoundly undermined trust in online communications tools, there is an urgent need for transparency, predictability and proportionality.

The EU PNR is delayed by MEPs, but the Russian PNR arrives

bogdan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:12:51 +0000

This article is also available in:
Deutsch: MEPs verzögern EU-PNR, aber EU-Russland PNR wird kommen

On 10 June 2013, the MEPs were supposed to vote on the recommendation of EP LIBE Committee (Civil liberties committee) to reject an EU passenger data retention system (Passenger Name Records or PNR), proposed by the EU Commission. Yet, a majority of MEPs decided to refer it back to LIBE, following a request by British MEP Tim Kirkhope.

Call for Action: Vote on the retention of air passenger data (PNR)

bogdan — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:02:29 +0000

This article is also available in:
Deutsch: Aufruf zum Mitmachen: Abstimmung über die Vorratsdatenspeicherung von...

On 10 June 2013, the European Parliament will decide on a EU-wide system for the retention of flight passenger data. You can contact your Members of the European Parliament and tell them to defend your right to privacy and free movement!

The proposed Directive will undermine the rights of travellers since the use and retention of PNR will limit fundamental rights, such as non-discrimination, the right of privacy and the protection of personal data (Article 8 of the Charter and Article 8 ECHR).

LIBE EP Committee: No PNR data sharing within the EU

bogdan — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:56:32 +0000

This article is also available in:
Deutsch: LIBE-Ausschuss des EP gegen EU-weiten Austausch von PNR-Daten

The directive obliging airlines to pass personal details of EU passengers to the authorities of the EU member states was rejected by the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) of the European Parliament (EP) on 24 April 2013.

The proposal was presented in February 2011 as an anti-terrorism measure to be applied for passengers flying in and out the EU, much the same with the agreement of the EU with the US, and had in view passenger data such as name, address, phone number and credit card details.

EU PNR directive gets funding before being adopted

bogdan — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:05:57 +0000

This article is also available in:
Deutsch: EU PNR-Richtlinie zur Fluggastüberwachung: Erst finanzieren, dann ver...

The European Parliament (EP) Civil Liberties Committee is to vote, by the end of January 2013, on the controversial EU-Passenger Name Record (PNR) directive proposal introduced in February 2011 that has already been examined by the three EP committees.

EU Parliament agrees to EU-US PNR Agreement

bogdan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:31:14 +0000

This article is also available in:
Deutsch: Europäisches Parlament stimmt PNR-Abkommen mit den USA zu

On 19 April 2012, MEPs decided on the controversial EU-US Agreement on the use and transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to the US Department of Homeland Security.

EU-US PNR Agreement: A bad day for civil liberties in Europe

bogdan — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:27:07 +0000

This article is also available in:
Deutsch: PNR-Abkommen: Ein schwarzer Tag für die europäischen Bürgerrechte

On 27 March 2012, the Civil Liberties (LIBE) Committee of the European Parliament decided to back the new air passenger data deal with the United States. In her recommendation, the Dutch Liberal MEP Sophie in 't Veld called on her colleagues to reject it. However, to her regret, the LIBE Committee has endorsed the Agreement despite inadequate legal safeguards.

EDRi had repeatedly pointed out the serious flaws of the Agreement to the Parliamentarians in the LIBE Committee.

First vote in the EP on PNR Agreement with the USA

bogdan — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:24:28 +0000

This article is also available in:
Deutsch: Erste Abstimmung im EU-Parlament über PNR-Abkommen mit den USA

The latest chapter in the collection and processing of passenger data to cover all flights arriving in and departing from the US was opened when, in 2011, the European Commission tabled a renegotiated proposal for an air passenger data agreement with the US. After the attacks of 9/11, the US Government required to access travellers' personal data contained in the databases of all foreign carriers.

Proposed US-EU PNR Agreement made public

bogdan — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:17:40 +0000

This article is also available in:
Deutsch: Details zum geplanten US-EU PNR-Abkommen durchgesickert

On 17 November 2011, U.S. and EU officials initialled a proposed agreement to authorize airlines to forward passenger name record (PNR) data to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).