Passenger Privacy Protection Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1206
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-04-11
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accounting and auditing

Aviation and airports

Government studies and investigations

Photography and imaging

Right of privacy

Sound recording
Latest action: action_date: 2019-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-04-11
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Passenger Privacy Protection Act of 2019</strong></p> <p>This bill prohibits all aircraft of an air carrier and a foreign air carrier: from having in place cameras and microphones that can monitor passengers. </p> <p>The Federal Aviation Administration shall periodically conduct audits of such air carriers regarding the information they collect with respect to aircraft passengers, including any information obtained through the physical surveillance of passengers.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1206 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 11, 2019 Mr. Merkley (for himself and Mr. Kennedy ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit aircraft from having in place cameras and microphones that can monitor passengers.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Passenger Privacy Protection Act of 2019 . 2. Prohibitions relating to cameras and microphones on aircraft (a) In general Subchapter I of chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 41725. Prohibitions relating to cameras and microphones on aircraft (a) Prohibitions The following rules shall apply to all aircraft of an air carrier and a foreign air carrier: (1) Any in-flight entertainment system installed on the aircraft after the date of the enactment of this section may not have an embedded camera or microphone. In the case where the aircraft has, as of such date of enactment, a existing camera or microphone embedded in an in-flight entertainment system, by not later than 2 months after such date of enactment— (A) the camera shall be either— (i) removed; (ii) permanently disabled and covered; or (iii) covered in a fashion that prevents the camera from making any observation; and (B) the microphone shall be either— (i) removed; or (ii) physically disconnected and covered in a fashion that renders the microphone ineffective. (2) Any camera or microphone that is designed to observe a passenger and that is separate from an in-flight entertainment system may not be installed on the aircraft after the date of the enactment of this section. Any such camera or microphone that was installed on the aircraft prior to such date of enactment shall be removed within 2 months of such date of enactment. (b) Changes to remote switches not sufficient Changes made by an air carrier or a foreign air carrier to remote switches of an in-flight entertainment system are not sufficient to meet the requirements of subsection (a)(1). . (b) Clerical amendment The analysis for chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 41724 the following: 41725. Prohibitions relating to cameras and microphones on aircraft. . 3. Requiring audits of airlines regarding the information they collect on passengers The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall periodically conduct audits of air carriers and foreign air carriers (as such terms are defined in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code) regarding the information the carrier collects with respect to passengers on its aircraft, including any information obtained through the physical surveillance of passengers.