Brussels, 03/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The United States has sufficient data protection mechanisms, particularly regarding exchange of personal information about air passengers with the EU, explained a high-ranking official responsible for data protection at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), John Kropf, in Brussels on Thursday 2 October 2008.
The exchange of personal information between the EU and the United States for the purposes of tackling crime and terrorism has been broadly criticised by Europeans, whose wrath has focussed on the PNR (Passenger Name Record) system (see EUROPE 9525) and the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) visa waiver process that will become compulsory on 12 January 2009 (see EUROPE 9713). The US Department of Homeland Security 'takes privacy very seriously,' said John Kropf, Deputy Chief Privacy Officer. The DHS ensures that privacy laws and procedures arising from those laws are scrupulously respected when databases are created that contain personal information, explained Kropf, adding that data is processed in a transparent, open manner. 'We give opportunity for access and redress. Any individual can ask DHA what information it maintains' on him or her and correct it using the DHS TRIP system (Traveler Redress Inquiry Program), which collects complaints and comments from individual travellers. Kropf said: 'We have an obligation to respond by law. If you're not satisfied with the response, you can pursue that administratively and even go to court… For whatever reason, you are given the opportunity to seek redress and you can do that online. It's an administrative commitment.' The system also allows inaccuracies to be corrected that could lead to one person being confused with another, for example. Kropf said it was all a question of simplicity. Kropf stressed that a new high level EU-United States meeting could be held with Europeans on data protection in order to reach agreement (see EUROPE 9679). He mentioned, however, that things were on 'pause at the moment,' adding that 'it's pretty much on the process we paused'. 'I honestly believe we have of substance principles in common. The key is to get those principles get down on paper and underscore the fact they're done reciprocally,' explained Kropf, refusing to comment on whether the US government would sign a binding agreement in this connection. Representatives of the French Presidency and the European Commission will soon be travelling to Washington to discuss these various points before a meeting at ministerial level in December 2008. (B.C. transl fl)