The IRS accessed a massive database of Americans’ travel records without obtaining a warrant, according to a letter signed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers. The data, which provides details about when and where a person flew and the credit card they used, was accessed by the agency through the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), a company co-owned by major airlines. This data is sold commercially to government agencies, allowing them to purchase access to individuals’ travel histories without legal oversight. The letter, which was shared with 404 Media, is the clearest example yet of how federal agencies are using this method to obtain sensitive information. The IRS case is particularly alarming because it confirms that the agency did not comply with federal law or its own policies in acquiring the data.
The letter, addressed to nine major airlines, urges them to halt the data selling program, which is currently under review. The lawmakers argue that this practice violates privacy protections and sets a dangerous precedent for government surveillance. The issue has sparked a broader conversation about the use of commercial data in law enforcement and intelligence operations. The IRS confirmed in the letter that it did not conduct a legal review to determine whether the purchase of American citizens’ travel data required a warrant. This revelation has raised significant legal and ethical concerns, prompting calls for stricter regulations on data access and privacy rights.
Following the release of the letter, the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) announced that it plans to shut down the data selling program. However, the decision to discontinue the program does not eliminate the legal questions surrounding the access of private data by government agencies. Critics argue that the mere existence of such programs highlights the need for comprehensive reforms in data privacy laws and oversight mechanisms. The case underscores the growing tension between national security interests and the right to privacy, as well as the ethical implications of commercial data being used for governmental purposes without proper legal safeguards.