US wants new aviation standard to expand passenger data collection

The US is pushing for a new global aviation standard by late 2019 that would expand the collection of passenger records from airlines, a high-ranking state department official said Friday, in a move that would help combat terrorism while raising privacy concerns. Nathan Sales, the US counter-terrorism coordinator, urged the ICAO "to act with all deliberate speed" to come up with a new standard that would vastly expand the number of countries that collect passenger information like frequent flyer numbers, email addresses and credit card booking information. The ICAO cannot impose rules on govts, but wields clout through its safety and security standards which are made mandatory through domestic legislation passed by its 192 member states. <br/>