The 404 Media Podcast Airlines Sold Your Flight Data to DHS—And Covered It Up
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Jun 18, 2025 Discover the shocking truth about major airlines selling your flight data to Customs and Border Protection while keeping it under wraps. Dive into the world of AI scraping bots as they revolutionize access to libraries and museums, but also raise concerns about cultural heritage preservation. Plus, uncover the casual surveillance connections between ICE and local law enforcement through leaked emails. This fascinating exploration highlights the complex landscape of data privacy, transparency, and the impacts of technology on society.
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Airlines' Data Sales Revealed
- Airlines Reporting Corporation acts as a middleman for flight bookings through third-party sites, gathering massive amounts of passenger data.
- This data includes passenger names, credit cards, and itineraries, which gets sold to DHS without passengers' knowledge.
DHS Data Focus on Third-Party Bookings
- DHS claims ARC data excludes direct bookings made with airlines, focusing only on third-party bookings.
- This implies bulk collection mainly targets users booking through popular travel platforms, shaping a large surveillance data set.
Airlines Conceal Data Sale
- Airlines use a data broker to sell flight data and include clauses preventing DHS from revealing the source of the data.
- This covert setup enables airlines to monetize passenger info without public awareness or consent.
