Donated: Your Privacy
If you flew Jet Blue in 2002 or before, a whole lot of people might know a whole lot about you. According to this Wired story, in September, 2002, Jet Blue transferred customer data to a defense contractor -- with the assistance of the Transportation Safety Administration, and without the knowledge or permission of the passengers -- and that's pretty damn creepy:
The contractor, Torch Concepts, then augmented that data with Social Security numbers and other sensitive personal information, including income level, to develop what looks to be a study of whether passenger-profiling systems such as CAPPS II are feasible.The study, titled "Homeland Security -- Airline Passenger Risk Assessment," which JetBlue says was based on an unauthorized use of its data, was presented at a February technology conference.
JetBlue clearly violated its own privacy policy by transferring its passenger data. Such a violation could be grounds for an investigation of unfair business practices by the Federal Trade Commission, which has the authority to fine companies and issue injunctions.
"We made a special exemption for this one exceptional case," said Gareth Edmundson-Jones, a spokesman for JetBlue. "We clearly have to review internally the decision and reconsider our policies."
Picture this: You paid a little too much for that new car a few years back, feeling comforted that nobody knew but you. Wrong! Just you and the 500 conference attendees who saw the PowerPoint presentation of your "vehicle ownership information" -- if you had the bad fortune to "save" by flying Jet Blue. Have you learned your lesson? Take this quick, easy test (just one question): How do you spell "privacy" now?
ANSWER: B-O-Y-C-O-T-T J-E-T B-L-U-E.
How'dja do?