Dutch gov't wants airlines to share passenger info in fight against terrorism
The Dutch government wants airlines to share information about their passengers with the government in future. This data is necessary in the fight against "terrorism and serious crime", Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus of Justice and Security said in a letter to the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, AD reports.
"Serious crime" refers to crimes that carry a penalty of at least 3 years in prison. The data will be stored for five years and managed by a separate body, which will be supervised by the Dutch Data Protection Authority. The police and Public Prosecution Service, among others, will have access to this information.
"If we know better where and when criminals and terrorists travel, we will also be able to deal with them faster", Grapperhaus said in his letter. He is convinced that this measure will "serve our safety". He emphasized that the data will be handled with care. "And that it will only be used for its purpose: the prevention and detection of terrorism and serious crime."
This bill still has to be passed by the Tweede Kamer and the Eerste Kamer, the Dutch Senate.