The SEC Bought Airline Data to Monitor Flights Worldwide

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) acquired access to a vast database containing over a billion airline ticketing records, encompassing not just domestic flights within the United States, but also international flights and those between foreign countries, according to documents obtained by 404 Media. This data was previously sold by the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), a consortium of major airlines such as Delta, United, and American.

ARC ceased selling this data following public scrutiny from 404 Media and legislative pressure last year. However, the recently obtained records shed light on the extensive scope of data that airlines were selling without customers' consent, and potentially without necessary legal oversight.

The documents, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, reveal that the ARC's "Travel Intelligence Program" (TIP) included not just passenger names and flight details, but also credit card information used for ticket purchases. This data also detailed departure and arrival cities, flight numbers, and the "selling agency," which likely referred to the travel agency through which the booking was made.

ARC's business model involved acting as an intermediary between airlines and travel agencies, collecting data on bookings made via platforms like Expedia or Kayak, and then reselling it as part of its data brokerage operations.

ARC's TIP also boasted capabilities such as sending daily reports on ticket purchases made within a 24-hour period, allowing the SEC to search for specific individuals' names. The SEC reportedly required access to between 1 and 25 such daily searches. Despite these capabilities, the SEC has not commented on this acquisition of data.

ARC had previously informed 404 Media that TIP was established following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and had since been utilized by U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies to support national security and prevent criminal activities. These activities reportedly included combating human trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, sex trafficking, national security threats, terrorism, and other threats to U.S. safety.