EU Wants Air Passenger Data Collected

An anonymous reader sends news of the EU following in the footsteps of the US in that they are contemplating requiring all 27 member states to collect data on airline passengers and to retain it for up to 13 years. No centralized database would be created; instead states would be encouraged to store and to share their own data as needed. All states would have to pass enabling laws before the measure could come into effect. The rules would not apply to flights entirely within the EU. The proposal is part of an anti-terrorism package that also includes tighter laws to control hate speech and bomb-making instructions.

Spain is already doing this

[mikael]

New Spanish security rules likely to cause airport delays [uk-airport-news.info]

Re:Damnit!

[sayfawa]

Last time i was in NY (pre 2001, though), it was "US citizens and greencard holders first, europeans last". Maybe we should have something similar at EU airports, to make us EU citizens feel smug and let US citizens stand around for long hours for a change...

You don't have to wish for it, that already exists. At every European airport I've been to I had to stand in a longer, slower moving line because I'm not an EU citizen.

Re:Damnit!

[IANAAC]

All in the name of "security", 'couse, naturally, non-EU-citizens will have to fill in pointless imigration forms, answer stupid questions like "Are you a terrorist" to armed security guards while everybody is watching and generally made of fool of yourself. After all, the EU has to bring up its security standard to US levels...

Sounds like my last pass through Dublin. Of course it was the day after a bomb scare. Still not as bad as Heathrow though.

Many don't want to admit it, but it's just as bad in many other countries as it is entering the U.S.

Re:Yes but...

[m2943]

Europe has a whole gaggle of Mini Me's taking Bush's place. Or do you really want to argue that people like Berlusconi are any better?

Re:Hate speech and bomb-making instructions?

[PjotrP]

The hate speech thing always is an easy way to put europeans in their place. Then again it usually only works when you don't go into the details about just how free speech works in practice. In practice for example it might be that the freedom of the press somehow is in a much better shape in europe than in the united states.

The US might not have a law to limit free speech, but in reality it seems the free speech of journalists is more limited than in europe. If you use a law to limit it, or just use patriot acts, or even lawless operations by government agencies, doesnt matter much. How you limit free speech is irrelevant, but don't think there is no limiting going on in the US.

See the index of the Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders for example:

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24025/ [rsf.org]

Re:Hate speech and bomb-making instructions?

[morgan_greywolf]

The US might not have a law to limit free speech, but in reality it seems the free speech of journalists is more limited than in europe.

Give an example. There aren't any laws, other than slander and libel, specifically on the books in the U.S. limiting the free speech of journalists. Protection of sources, reporter's privelege, whatever -- these are decided on a case-by-case basis in the U.S., as is true for most of Europe.

Re:Damnit!

[krlynch]

Last time i was in NY (pre 2001, though), it was "US citizens and greencard holders first, europeans last".

Watch where you're throwing those stones, buddy :-)

I travel to Europe regularly on business. At EVERY European airport I've been too, there's an "EU passport holders" line (and Switzerland, usually) and an "everyone else" line.

Your #1 EU Bomb-Making Info-Site!

[adnonsense]

Get it here! How To Make A Bomb [how-to-make-a-bomb.eu] .

(My personal reaction after reading earlier comments by Mr. Frattini, who's not only the EU's anti-terrorism muppet but is also responsible for "Fundamental Rights and citizenship", hahaha.)