New documents obtained via the Freedom of Information Act reveal that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has purchased flight data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) for $11,025, supposedly to enhance national security.
If you’ve taken a flight with any airline since June 2024, your flight records may now be in CBP’s hands.
As reported by 404 Media, the law enforcement agency claimed that this purchase was vital for tracking individuals of interest in U.S. airspace.
Data Purchased to “Track People of Interest” Flying in the United States
These findings surfaced after requests for information about CBP’s transactions with ARC were made under the Freedom of Information Act. The documents have yet to be verified independently by other media.
According to 404 Media, the arrangement to sell such data to federal agencies is part of a broader initiative known as the Travel Intelligence Program (TIP), established in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. ARC previously indicated that TIP was designed to provide relevant data to law enforcement for national security purposes.
Under the agreement, ARC will provide TIP data to CBP for $11,025, with options to extend the contract up until 2029. Additionally, there were reports of a further payment of $6,847.50 made to ARC for the extension option.
Though the documents fell short of detailing the specific types of data collected, a privacy impact assessment obtained by 404 Media indicates that TIP data is updated daily, encompassing ticket sales information, which may include flyers’ names, credit card details, and the airlines they are using. A statement of work shared with 404 Media shows that CBP sought this data to help various law enforcement bodies trace the U.S. domestic travel information of specific individuals. Also, it was stipulated that CBP must not disclose ARC as the source of the data acquired.
Neither ARC nor the airlines involved have commented publicly on this matter. In a defense of this purchase, a CBP representative justified the practice as a necessary step in the mission to maintain public safety while safeguarding individual privacy.
“CBP is committed to protecting individuals’ privacy during the execution of its mission to protect the American people, safeguard our borders, and enhance the nation’s economic prosperity,” the spokesman told 404 Media. “CBP follows a robust privacy policy as we protect the homeland through the air, land, and maritime environments against illegal entry, illicit activity, or other threats to national sovereignty and economic security.”
