Business travel associations call for revision of U.S. immigration procedures
Paragon Europe has expressed its deep concern regarding the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Targeting System (ATS). In letters to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, the umbrella organization of eight European business travel associations criticized that important details about this program are not available to the traveling public. Paragon Europe asks for clarification on those aspects of the program which concern the practical side of travel.
Furthermore, Paragon Europe writes, some specifics of the collection, storage and use of data seem not to be in accordance with standard Privacy Acts, e.g. that the information is available to private parties. ATS users must be reasonably assured that their sensitive data is safe and secure. Worries also include the fact that travelers cannot access and correct inaccuracies of their profiles and other erroneous information. A reasonably quick and simple redress procedure in cases of misidentification must be implemented, Paragon Europe writes.
[GADS_NEWS]Editorial note
The current members of the Paragon Partnership are as follows:
Brazilian Business Travel Association (ABGEV)
Australasian Business Travel Association (ABTA)
Austrian Business Travel Association (ABTA-Austria)
The French Business Travel Association (AFCV)
Danish Business Travel Association (DBTA)
Finnish Business Travel Association (FBTA)
Iberian Business Travel Association (IBTA)
National Business Travel Association (NBTA) USA
Netherlands Association for Travelmanagement (NATM)
Swedish Business Travel Association (SBTA)
The Business Travel Association of Germany (VDR)
The Paragon Partnership is the global alliance of business travel associations including buyer-led business travel industry organizations worldwide. Together, the Paragon Partners represent about 4,700 business travel buyers and suppliers. Members of the Paragon Partner associations manage and direct more than $190 billion USD, which translates to more than €157 billion. For more information, see www.paragon-partnership.org
