The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has come under fire for accessing a massive database of American citizens’ travel records without a warrant, raising significant privacy and legal concerns. According to a letter penned by bipartisan lawmakers and shared with 404 Media, the IRS reportedly purchased data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), a data broker co-owned by major U.S. airlines. This data includes detailed information on when and where individuals traveled, along with credit, card usage, all without prior judicial approval. The move has sparked outrage among privacy advocates and led lawmakers to demand that airlines cease the practice of selling access to this data.
Following public scrutiny, ARC announced plans to shut down the program. The letter also highlighted that the IRS did not comply with federal laws and its own policies by acquiring the data, further underscoring the legal and ethical dilemmas posed by such practices.
Airlines such as Delta, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Southwest are among the co-owners of ARC, which facilitates the sale of travel records to government agencies. This data, which includes comprehensive details about passenger movements, has been used by agencies like the IRS for investigative purposes. Critics argue that the lack of legal oversight in these data acquisitions has created a potential for abuse and has eroded public trust in governmental institutions. The incident has prompted renewed calls for greater transparency and regulation in data sharing practices between private entities and government agencies.