Data brokers are selling flight information to CBP and ICE (eff.org)

Article summary

Data brokers, such as the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), are selling flight information to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This data includes passenger names, flight itineraries, and financial details. The practice raises concerns about privacy and the potential for government overreach. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is calling for 'privacy first' legislation to regulate the sale of personal data.

Main themes

• data brokering
• privacy concerns
• government surveillance
• tech industry blame
• lack of transparency
• regulatory needs
• public awareness

What commenters say

• The data brokering industry is largely unknown to the general public, but it has a significant impact on personal privacy.
• Some commenters believe that the tech industry is unfairly blamed for data privacy issues, while the real culprits are data brokers and other industries.
• There is a lack of concrete evidence and examples of data being sold, making it difficult to understand the scope of the problem.
• The ease and cost of obtaining specific personal data, such as transaction records, is unclear and may be exaggerated.
• Some argue that the term 'telemetry' is often misunderstood and that its primary use is for usage statistics, not for selling personal information.
• The trust in companies that handle personal data has been eroded due to past betrayals, making it difficult for any company to be trusted with data collection.
• The line between legitimate data collection and privacy invasion is blurred, and there is a need for clearer regulations and transparency.
• The data brokering industry is seen as mundane and unsexy, which may contribute to its lack of public scrutiny and oversight.