Slate News What Next: TBD | Airlines Are Selling Your Data to the Government
Jun 22, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Joseph Cox, co-founder of 404 Media and co-host of the 404 Media Podcast, delves into the shocking practice of airlines selling passenger data to the government. He reveals how the Airlines Reporting Corporation funnels sensitive travel information to Customs and Border Protection without transparency. The conversation raises urgent questions about privacy and surveillance, exploring the ethical implications of such data transactions and the public's growing outcry for accountability and transparency in airline practices.
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Airlines Sell Passenger Data
- Airlines sell passengers' flight data to the U.S. government through a data broker called ARC.
- ARC hides the data's source, raising concerns about transparency and consent.
ARC's Role in Flight Data
- ARC is co-owned by major US and international airlines, serving as a middleman for flight booking data.
- This data shows not just past travel but future travel intentions, valuable for government surveillance.
Data Sales Shrouded in Secrecy
- ARC requested the government not publicize their involvement or employees to keep data sales secret.
- Lack of informed consent and secrecy around data sales draws serious ethical questions.