Cathay Pacific says it's monitoring passengers via onboard cameras

Cathay Pacific has revealed it is monitoring passengers via onboard cameras, re-opening an uncomfortable debate over surveillance on airplanes. The carrier, frequently named among the world's best, outlined its information gathering in an updated privacy policy published at the end of July 2019. Cathay confirmed it is collecting images of passengers while they're on board, monitoring their usage of the in-flight entertainment system (IFE) and how they spend time during the flight. The airline said these images are captured via CCTV cameras fixed around the airplane and not from embedded seat-back cameras. "In line with standard practice and to protect our customers and frontline staff, there are CCTV cameras installed in our airport lounges and onboard aircraft for security purposes," a spokesperson for Cathay Pacific said. "All images are handled sensitively with strict access controls. There are no CCTV cameras installed in the lavatories." Earlier in 2018, multiple airlines confirmed that cameras were installed in their entertainment systems, sparking widespread privacy concerns. Airlines including Singapore Airlines, Emirates and American said they had no plans to activate the cameras. Cathay's spokesperson said similar devices were not installed in its IFEs. "Our inflight entertainment systems do not have any cameras, microphones or sensors to monitor passengers, nor have they in the past." In its privacy policy, the airline says the data collection is designed to improve the flying experience with additional personalization. The airline also says data could be shared with third-party partners for marketing purposes.<br/>