February 20, 2004   SENATORS COLLINS, LIEBERMAN COMMENT ON TSA’S INVOLVEMENT IN OBTAINING SENSITIVE AIRLINE PASSENGER INFORMATION   WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ranking Member Joe Lieberman (D-CT) today commented on a new report that outlines the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) role in obtaining sensitive airline passenger information from JetBlue Airways for a Defense Department database project. “The report includes the troubling finding that certain TSA employees acted without appropriate regard for individual privacy interests,” said Senator Collins. “I commend Nuala Kelly, the Department's Privacy Officer, for her prompt and thorough investigation of the transfer of sensitive personal data on airline passengers.” “The Department must seek to strike the right balance between security and privacy interests,” Senator Collins said. “In this case, the TSA employees involved compromised the privacy interests of individuals without adequate justification.” “I am very troubled TSA requested, in writing, that JetBlue turn over passenger information to a defense contractor without appropriate regard for individual privacy and in defiance of the spirit of the 1974 Privacy Act. We need to be assured that TSA, in handling airline passenger information, will be forthright and scrupulous about protecting passenger privacy. I support the recommendation for department-wide privacy policy training,” said Senator Lieberman. Last week, the Senators sent a letter to Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, asking him to provide the Committee with copies of any written communications from TSA to JetBlue Airways related to the Army’s research project conducted by Torch Concepts, as well as an explanation of why this information might not have been previously disclosed. Today, DHS Chief Privacy Officer Nuala Kelly provided the Committee with a report on the events surrounding the JetBlue data transfer. In October 2003, the Senators wrote to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld regarding an Army contractor’s acquisition of private passenger information from JetBlue Airways for a data mining research project. Specifically, they asked Rumsfeld to determine if the DOD followed Privacy Act regulations by, among other things, publishing a notice regarding the system of records being created by the contractor and preventing unauthorized disclosures. The DOD Inspector General’s office has been investigating the incident since last November.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 February 2004 Press Releases   February 27 - Senator Collins Reflects on Department of Homeland Security’s First-Year Accomplishments   February 27 - Collins, Lieberman Urge Budget Committee to Fund Key Coast Guard Project   February 26 - Senator Collins Praises Education Dept. for Creating Online List of Accredited Institutions   February 26 - GAO Agrees With Chairman Collins That Comprehensive Postal Reform Is “Urgently Needed”   February 20 current Press Release   February 13 - Senators Call on TSA to Explain Its Role in Obtaining Sensitive Airline Passenger Information   February 13 - Senator Collins Comments on DHS Personnel Regulations   February 12 - Senator Collins: Defense Contractors Who Cheat on Their Taxes Must Be Held Accountable   February 12 - Senate, House Committees Release GAO Report On Federal IT Project Management   February 9 - Secretary Ridge Outlines Homeland Security FY ‘05 Budget Before Committee   February 9 - Chairman Collins Joins Senators Fitzgerald and Levin in Introducing Legislation to Reform Mutual Fund Industry   February 6 - Collins Praises Administration's Efforts to Combat Agroterrorism   February 4 - Senator Collins Holds Hearing on Postal Reform   February 4 - Senate Approves Collins, Lieberman Bill to Provide Cutting Edge Counterterrorism Equipment to Communities
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510