The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has accessed a massive database containing the travel records of millions of Americans without obtaining a warrant, according to a letter signed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers. The letter, shared with 304 Media, reveals that the IRS obtained the data through a commercial data broker, the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), which sells access to travel information to government agencies. The lawmakers condemned the agency’s actions, citing violations of federal law and the IRS’s own policies. The report highlights the growing concerns over the lack of legal oversight in accessing private data, as government agencies can now purchase such information without judicial review. The letter urges major airlines to stop selling customer data to third parties.
According to the letter, the IRS’s purchase of the data was not accompanied by a warrant or any court order, raising serious questions about the legality of the agency’s actions. The lawmakers emphasized that the IRS