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EU to debate data transfers to US EU to debate data transfers to US
(about 3 hours later)
A debate in the European Parliament is to look at how much data on air passengers and bank transactions is fed into a US anti-terror profiling system. The European Parliament is to debate how much data on air passengers and bank transactions is fed into a US anti-terror profiling system.
The EU has already raised concerns with Washington that the US system could be gaining access to passenger data in ways that violate a EU-US agreement. The EU has already raised concerns with Washington that the US system could be gaining access to passenger data in ways that violate an EU-US agreement.
Washington says access to international bank transactions and passenger records is essential for its war on terror.Washington says access to international bank transactions and passenger records is essential for its war on terror.
The US has sought information about air travellers since the 9/11 attacks.The US has sought information about air travellers since the 9/11 attacks.
Many in the EU are uneasy with the scope of the Americans' requests.Many in the EU are uneasy with the scope of the Americans' requests.
Last year, it emerged that a private company, Swift, which handles millions of money transfers, had been passing information to the US authorities in violation of EU privacy rules.Last year, it emerged that a private company, Swift, which handles millions of money transfers, had been passing information to the US authorities in violation of EU privacy rules.
Now MEPs want to know whether that data was fed into the US Automated Targeting System, which profiles possible terrorism suspects.Now MEPs want to know whether that data was fed into the US Automated Targeting System, which profiles possible terrorism suspects.
They are also asking whether the European Commission knows of any other requests to companies such as telecoms providers or insurers to make their data available to the Americans.They are also asking whether the European Commission knows of any other requests to companies such as telecoms providers or insurers to make their data available to the Americans.
For its part, the commission has already written to the US government to ask whether the ATS profiling system is using air passenger records in ways that fall outside the current EU-US agreement.For its part, the commission has already written to the US government to ask whether the ATS profiling system is using air passenger records in ways that fall outside the current EU-US agreement.
One MEP, Dutch Liberal Sophie in 't Veld, said it was not a question of being anti-American - American privacy laws were in fact tougher than those in the EU.One MEP, Dutch Liberal Sophie in 't Veld, said it was not a question of being anti-American - American privacy laws were in fact tougher than those in the EU.
The problem was, she said, that those laws did not apply in Europe, and that there was no democratic debate on the American measures in either national parliaments or at the European level.The problem was, she said, that those laws did not apply in Europe, and that there was no democratic debate on the American measures in either national parliaments or at the European level.