The Nation
Air traveler data now collected for comparison to watch lists
Posted: Nov 30, 2010 1:12 PM by Greg Boyce
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Transportation Security Administration says all 197 airlines that fly to the U.S. are now collecting names, genders and birth dates of passengers so the government can check them against terror watch lists before they fly.
Getting all air carriers that travel to or through the U.S. to provide the data was a key element of the government's counterterrorism efforts and completes one of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations. The program is designed to reduce instances when passengers are mistaken for people on terror watch lists.
Compliance with the program has been phased in over the past year, and many travelers have already been supplying their gender,
birth date and full name as it appears on their government identification when they purchase their tickets.
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