A new investigation reveals how top U.S. airlines are selling domestic passenger information to federal agencies—without warrants.
In a bombshell revelation shaking both privacy advocates and everyday travelers, it was uncovered that major U.S. airlines—including Delta, United, American, Southwest, JetBlue, and Alaska—have been selling extensive passenger data to federal agencies through a little-known data broker: the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC).
This practice, conducted under ARC’s Travel Intelligence Program (TIP), has raised serious privacy concerns, with experts and lawmakers calling it an end-run around constitutional protections.
🛫 What Data Was Sold—and to Whom?
ARC, a data broker owned by the airlines themselves, has been selling access to billions of data points collected from domestic flights. The purchasers? U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Data sold includes:
- Full passenger names
- Complete itineraries
- Payment methods and credit card info
- Coverage for both U.S. and international travelers
- Daily-updated logs covering over 39 months of travel records
💰 How Much Did the Government Pay?
According to federal procurement documents:
- In June 2024, CBP paid $11,025 for TIP data access
- Later extended for $6,847.50
- The data access agreement spans three years (through 2029)
This means millions of Americans’ flight data is actively being monitored—without their knowledge and without a warrant.
🤐 Why Didn’t You Hear About This Sooner?
The contract includes a confidentiality clause that forbids CBP from disclosing that ARC is the source of this data—unless ordered by a court. Critics argue this secrecy is a deliberate strategy to avoid public scrutiny.
⚖️ Legal Loopholes and Civil Liberties
Instead of requesting court-authorized data access under warrant procedures, CBP and ICE are purchasing the data via private contracts—sidestepping constitutional limits designed to protect your privacy.
Privacy experts call this a dangerous loophole:
“The government seems intent on using data brokers to buy their way around important guardrails and limits,”
—Jake Laperruque, Center for Democracy & Technology
Senator Ron Wyden has also voiced strong opposition, condemning the lack of transparency and the threat to Americans’ civil rights.
📅 Timeline of Events
- June 2024: CBP initiates its first contract with ARC
- May 2025: ICE is confirmed to be using TIP
- June 2025: The leak is exposed by outlets like Wired, 404 Media, and Independent
🧭 Why This Matters to You
This isn’t about a random data breach—this is sanctioned surveillance conducted with airline participation and without judicial oversight.
- You buy a ticket → Airlines send your data to ARC → ARC sells it to CBP or ICE
- No subpoena. No warrant. No notification.
- Your freedom of movement is now part of a database accessible by law enforcement
If you’ve flown domestically since 2021, your data is likely included.
📢 What Can You Do?
- Use encrypted communication and privacy-focused travel platforms when possible
- Demand transparency from airlines and federal agencies
- Contact your elected representatives to support federal data privacy reform
At Boltz Legal, we believe privacy is not optional—it’s a constitutional right. This ongoing situation highlights the critical need for stronger data protection laws and greater transparency from corporations that profit from our personal information.
Today’s Insight
“The right to be let alone is indeed the beginning of all freedom.”