U.S., EU Officials Called Confident on New Passenger-Name Deal
EU and U.S. officials Mon. noted differences of opinion over the airline passenger name record (PNR) program, but said they believe a new agreement will be reached before an interim arrangement expires in July. Meeting with the European Parliament (EP) Civil Liberties, Justice & Home Affairs Committee, U.S. Homeland Security Secy. Michael Chertoff said extensive data, including phone numbers and e- mail addresses, is needed to help protect the U.S. against terrorism. MEPs continued to raise privacy concerns.
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The arrangement requires European airlines to turn over 38 pieces of personal data on passengers to U.S. authorities within 15 min. of a departure to the U.S. A temporary pact replaced one thrown out in May 2006 by the European Court of Justice (CD May 31/06 p3). Many MEPs, civil rights activities and others say the program raises privacy and data retention issues. The EC and Council, now negotiating the new permanent treaty, have pressed the U.S. for stronger assurances that Europeans’ personal data won’t be misused.
Chertoff acknowledged lawmakers’ worry about PNR but noted that PNR provides “basic information” used to analyze possible links between travelers and known terrorists. He cited 3 examples of law enforcement use of PNR data, giving lawmakers a letter listing 8. The program strong protects rights, backed by congressional and judicial oversight, the U.S. Inspector General and privacy law, he said.
Lawmakers remained skeptical. Europeans feel the U.S. ignores basic rights to pursue terrorists, said Socialist Party member Stavros Lambrinidis. Liberal Party member Sophie In’t Veld asked Chertoff whether he would make a PNR agreement reflecting European and American principles.
A thorny question is how long to hold PNR data. The U.S. wants to keep them as long as they're useful -- an indefinite time, Chertoff said. An idea under discussion is to distinguish between active data, held for ongoing cases, and inactive data, held only if a new investigation arises, said EC Vp Franco Frattini.
The U.S. accepts that it negotiates with Europe as a whole, said Frattini. Europe needs an “umbrella” under which all EU citizens are treated uniformly, he said.