In the digital world where personal privacy is increasingly at risk, it has now come to light that the U.S. government has been quietly purchasing airline passenger information without public knowledge.
A recent report by Wired revealed that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which operates under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been buying large amounts of flight data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC). This organization, which handles airline ticketing systems and works closely with travel agencies, reportedly provided CBP with sensitive passenger details such as names, full travel routes, and payment information.
ARC plays a critical role in managing airfare transactions worldwide, with about 240 airlines using its services. These include some of the biggest names in air travel, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Documents reviewed by Wired suggest that this agreement between CBP and ARC began in June 2024 and is still active. The data collection reportedly includes more than a billion flight records, covering trips already taken as well as future travel plans. Importantly, this data is not limited to U.S. citizens but includes travelers from around the globe.
What has raised serious concerns is that this information is being shared in bulk with U.S. government agencies, who can then use it to track individuals’ travel patterns and payment methods. According to Wired, the contract even required that the government agencies keep the source of the data hidden.
This article has been indexed from CySecurity News – Latest Information Security and Hacking Incidents