Comments on: Passport data security for e-Borders programme http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/08/04/passport-data-security-eborders-programme/ Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:52:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: richard http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/08/04/passport-data-security-eborders-programme/#comment-151473 richard Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:54:54 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4712#comment-151473 everytime i go abroad and come back to the uk i get a strange long hard surprised stare from from the passport officer at manchester airport ! dunno why to this day ,but every year it happens everytime i go abroad and come back to the uk i get a strange long hard surprised stare from from the passport officer at manchester airport !
dunno why to this day ,but every year it happens

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]]> By: Nick http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/08/04/passport-data-security-eborders-programme/#comment-150443 Nick Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:16:26 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4712#comment-150443 @ Gsp Just wondered if you ever travelled to the UK and had your passport checked on entry. If so all your details are already on the database. This is not a new database, just a way of placing the information on the database earlier. When you entered your information on web booking sites, where did you think the information went? (Because the only reason any agent/operator collects this information is to pass to a goverment). @ Gsp

Just wondered if you ever travelled to the UK and had your passport checked on entry. If so all your details are already on the database. This is not a new database, just a way of placing the information on the database earlier.

When you entered your information on web booking sites, where did you think the information went? (Because the only reason any agent/operator collects this information is to pass to a goverment).

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]]> By: Gsp http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/08/04/passport-data-security-eborders-programme/#comment-150396 Gsp Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:53:30 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4712#comment-150396 I've been happy to give my passport details to online travel agents, via their SSL encrypted websites, in the past for my own convenience. Same goes for a number of airlines with rewards programs. However, as you say the British government do not have the best track record at storing our data securely. The key things about online travel agents, (e.g. people like Expedia), are that a) they've worked hard to earn our confidence and trust, b) the choice is still up to the user, and c) they have to answer to their customers, whose data they take. Looking at the e-borders website you link to, does not inspire me with confidence. Additionally, this type of 'monopolistic' position (for lack of a better word) in terms of having 95% of all passengers' data creates one point of failure, and also tends to lead to complacency with organisations that basically don't have any competition to drive them to continue proving themselves to the public. Another key difference here, is that the people whose data e-borders is holding here, aren't their customers - so they're primary concern isn't going to be to answer to them, unlike a commercial company. I’ve been happy to give my passport details to online travel agents, via their SSL encrypted websites, in the past for my own convenience. Same goes for a number of airlines with rewards programs.

However, as you say the British government do not have the best track record at storing our data securely.

The key things about online travel agents, (e.g. people like Expedia), are that a) they’ve worked hard to earn our confidence and trust, b) the choice is still up to the user, and c) they have to answer to their customers, whose data they take.

Looking at the e-borders website you link to, does not inspire me with confidence. Additionally, this type of ‘monopolistic’ position (for lack of a better word) in terms of having 95% of all passengers’ data creates one point of failure, and also tends to lead to complacency with organisations that basically don’t have any competition to drive them to continue proving themselves to the public.

Another key difference here, is that the people whose data e-borders is holding here, aren’t their customers – so they’re primary concern isn’t going to be to answer to them, unlike a commercial company.

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]]> By: Nick http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/08/04/passport-data-security-eborders-programme/#comment-150393 Nick Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:06:52 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4712#comment-150393 The main point here this rant is about the UK. But this will be standard across all G20 countries' plus some others in the next couple of years. So every one will be affected. Also why it will be common to be asked for your passport details. Remember agents do not wish to do this; we do not get paid to do it. We have to submit them to the government that requires them. Why do we take photocopies because it is easiest way, rather than you read out every piece of information on your passport and we right it down, this way mistakes are more likely and how pleased will you be to be banned from travelling because of a misunderstanding. The main point here this rant is about the UK. But this will be standard across all G20 countries’ plus some others in the next couple of years. So every one will be affected. Also why it will be common to be asked for your passport details.

Remember agents do not wish to do this; we do not get paid to do it. We have to submit them to the government that requires them. Why do we take photocopies because it is easiest way, rather than you read out every piece of information on your passport and we right it down, this way mistakes are more likely and how pleased will you be to be banned from travelling because of a misunderstanding.

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]]> By: Darren Cronian http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/08/04/passport-data-security-eborders-programme/#comment-150387 Darren Cronian Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:22:31 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4712#comment-150387 @ Robin I guess you have handed in your passport to a hotel before, do you trust them the same as a travel agent? I agree that there's a risk when you hand over your passport, because that information has to be securely secured. It'll be interesting to see if we hear of any issues with passport security once e-borders is in full flow. @ Robin

I guess you have handed in your passport to a hotel before, do you trust them the same as a travel agent? I agree that there’s a risk when you hand over your passport, because that information has to be securely secured.

It’ll be interesting to see if we hear of any issues with passport security once e-borders is in full flow.

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