EPIC - House Committee Examines Future of Registered Traveler Program

A Congressional committee will hold a hearing today on the the Registered Traveler Program. The program, which operated under the brand name "Clear," shut down and the company that operated it has declared bankruptcy, leaving open the question of what will happen to the biometric identifiers, including fingerprints and iris scans, that were obtained from customers. The New York Times reports that the company's assets have been purchased and the program may restart within the year. EPIC testified before Congress in 2005 that the absence of Privacy Act safeguards would jeopardize air traveler privacy and security. See also EPIC Air Travel Privacy, EPIC Secure Flight, and EPIC Spotlight on Surveillance - Registered Traveler Card.

September 30, 2009| Share: