Italy’s data protection agency has fined Emirates a total of €180,000 ($208,890). The move is part of a larger investigation of the airline’s practices regarding handling and storing of the personal medical files of passengers who have disabilities.
The privacy dispute began when a passenger filed a complaint with Italy’s data protection authority. She argued that Emirates asked her to complete a health information form even though her travel status did not require medical documentation
Examining the Legal Justification Against Non-compliance Issues
In the course of the investigation, the Italian authority explained that air carriers have a legal right to collect health indicators for the purpose of providing physical conveyance and aid to people with disabilities. But the authority found major non-compliance issues related to transparency and statutory data storage limits.
The privacy enforcement agency identified two major compliance issues during the investigation:
- Inadequate Information: The airline has not been able to provide adequate privacy information concerning its operations on the booking portals or through the help-desk personnel.
- Excessive Storage Periods: The airline stores customers’ medical information in its databases for seven years, a period that regulators considered entirely disproportionate for transit assistance purposes.
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Data Retention Rules Should Be More Stringent
This fine imposed on Emirates Airline fine clearly shows that there is an increasing trend of regulating data retention practices of global commercial airlines. Privacy advocates stress that companies need to erase extremely private types of personal data including medical and movement history after the completion of their service requests.
The airline has not yet made any public announcement in regards to the regulation order and whether or not the company plans to make an appeal against the financial fine in Europe’s court. The order is a significant lesson for transport companies around the world to make sure that the data collection process is up to par with regional privacy regulations.
Nayab Fatima is a university graduate and an emerging media professional with a strong passion for journalism, research, and independent reporting. She specializes in developing well-researched, fact-based, and analytical news stories covering a wide range of sectors, with particular expertise in technology, telecommunications, aviation, and the automobile industry.
