http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-name21.html

Secret database kept on airline passengers
June 21, 2005
WASHINGTON -- A federal agency collected extensive personal information about airline passengers although Congress told it not to and it said it wouldn't, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

A Transportation Security Administration contractor used three data brokers to collect detailed information about U.S. citizens who flew on airlines in June 2004 in order to test a terrorist screening program called Secure Flight, according to documents that will be published in the Federal Register this week.

The Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits the government from keeping a secret database.

"I'm just floored,'' said Tim Sparapani, a privacy lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union. ''This is like creating an FBI file, not just some simple check."