Will DOT finally take traveler privacy issues seriously?

At the meeting of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections on May 21st, held at the FAA Building in Washington, DC, one of the most auspicious privacy meetings in DC history took place — the first meeting between the main government watchdogs and privacy enforcers together with airlines, central reservation systems, travel agents and consumers. Never before have these stakeholders been together to discuss privacy and your travel records.

It is time that the aviation system and its government overlords begin paying attention and start listening to the American public. But is there anything to listen to? Is there a problem? So far the attitude has been: we aren’t getting complaints about privacy and travel, therefore there must not be a problem.