Privacy chief criticizes TSA for approving transfer of passenger data

The chief privacy officer of the Homeland Security Department on Friday criticized the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for approving the transfer of JetBlue Airways' passenger data from the airline to a U.S. Army contractor.

In a 10-page report to the public, Nuala O'Connor Kelly said, "TSA employees involved acted without appropriate regard for individual privacy interests or the spirit of the Privacy Act of 1974."

The employees, who are not named, facilitated and were "essential to encourage the data transfer," Kelly wrote.

The report said TSA did not itself receive the passenger data.

The report referred the incident to the department's inspector general, called for the TSA employees to attend privacy policy training, and urged the establishment of guidelines for data sharing with the private sector.

"This case offers an excellent example of why guidelines are needed," said Lara Flint, staff counsel for the Center for Democracy and Technology.