Nothing is Private: DHS Data-mines Travelers

In the past, it was very easy to deride privacy advocates as alarmist, tin-foil-hatters. But, look at this, and tell me that this is the United States of America that we all learned about in school. Tell me this squares with what the founders set out to form.

Yes, this particular article deals with those people traveling from Europe to the United States, but remember, that would include you and me if we go there on a round-trip ticket. And do you really think that they only do this with foreign travel? That this isn't part of a larger data-mining program? And do you trust this administration to use this information only "where the life of a data subject or of others could be imperiled or seriously impaired?"

It's disgusting, it's wrong, and I dearly hope our next President starts dismantling some of these gross violations of people's rights.

[Excerpt]

Travelers Face Greater Use of Personal Data
Pact Covers Passengers Flying From Europe to U.S.

By Paul Lewis and Spencer S. Hsu

Washington Post Staff Writers

Friday, July 27, 2007

The United States and the European Union have agreed to expand a security program that shares personal data about millions of U.S.-bound airline passengers a year, potentially including information about a person's race, ethnicity, religion and health.

Under the agreement, airlines flying from Europe to the United States are required to provide data related to these matters to U.S. authorities if it exists in their reservation systems. The deal allows Washington to retain and use it only "where the life of a data subject or of others could be imperiled or seriously impaired," such as in a counterterrorism investigation.

According to the deal, the information that can be used in such exceptional circumstances includes "racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership" and data about an individual's health, traveling partners and sexual orientation.

Yep, you read that right: sexual orientation. For WHAT possible "security" purpose?

Read on, it gets worse: WashingtonPost.com