Jun 19, 2025
A recent report has revealed that major U.S. airlines—Delta, American, and United—have been selling passenger data to the federal government through a company they collectively own, the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC). ARC, which handles ticket transaction settlements, has reportedly provided U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with sensitive customer information, including names, full travel itineraries, and financial details. According to Wired and 404 Media, this data-sharing agreement began in June 2024 and could extend through 2029. The deal includes over a billion travel records and specifically requested that the data’s origins not be disclosed. Critics argue that this mass surveillance bypasses proper legal safeguards and undermines individual privacy protections, especially considering that it applies to both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.
The implications are alarming. This type of quiet data pipeline—enabled by post-9/11 legislation like the USA Patriot Act—continues to expand the surveillance state under the guise of national security. While the government insists the data helps track persons of interest, privacy advocates warn that such unchecked access threatens fundamental constitutional rights. As the U.S. inches closer to potential conflict in the Middle East, questions arise: What new liberties will be compromised in the name of security? The erosion of privacy through Real ID, warrantless searches, and now digital surveillance has already taken root. If history is any guide, war will once again serve as the catalyst for deeper government intrusion. Americans must remain vigilant and demand that elected officials treat war as a last resort—not a pretext to expand domestic control.
Stay Awake. Keep Watch.
SOURCE: Leo Hohmann's Substack