Trying to get every passenger on the list

Dan Grech Sep 8, 2006

SCOTT JAGOW: Today, the U.S and Europe started working on another deal. This one’s about sharing passenger lists for transatlantic flights. Marketplace’s Dan Grech reports.


DAN GRECH: It’s no mystery why the E.U. and the U.S. want to know who’s flying, and airlines understand that. Paul Mifsud is the head of government relations for KLM Royal Dutch airlines.

PAUL MISFUD:“Both sides realize that being able to share information about who’s on the flight and trying to identify terrorists is a good idea. The question is, is that all you’re going to use the data for, or is there more?”

Mifsud says Europeans tend to be much more sensitive about data collected by private companies. They want strict controls over how long the data’s held, for what purpose it’s used and what else is done with it. Those are some of the sticking points in today’s negotiation in Brussels.

The debate could continue for some time. Negotiations are expected to continue into 2007.

I’m Dan Grech for Marketplace.

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