PNR data not reduced, just squashed

The reduction of the number of data fields handed to US security services announced by the European Union was achieved by squeezing almost the same amount of data on to fewer lines, according to Out-Law.com.

Not really much of a concession by the US then.

According to Out-Law.com:

"A new passenger name records (PNR) deal was announced this week by the EU and the US. It covers how much information can be handed to US authorities about passengers on flights from Europe to the US and the conditions on which it was kept.

The US won major concessions from the EU, winning its demands to keep data for far longer and the ability to pass it on to other US agencies. The EU appeared to win one argument, reducing the amount of data transferred.

But the number of actual pieces of data asked for only reduced by two, to 32, and some extra information was asked for. The new PNR deal lists 19 data fields which will be collected on every passenger. Many of the fields include multiple pieces of information."

Virtually the same amount of data will be sent to the US, to do with as it likes.