Switzerland to introduce flight passenger database

Switzerland plans to introduce a flight passenger database from 2026 to collect and process personal data in a bid to combat terrorism and serious crime. The government has sent a related bill to parliament. Justice Minister Beat Jans told reporters on Wednesday that since the United States started collecting air passenger data after the 9/11 attacks on its territory, almost 70 countries around the world, including all 27 European Union member states, have exchanged such data via a national "Passenger Name Record" (PNR) system. This data is an effective tool in the fight against terrorism and serious crime, he said. + EU court ruling means Switzerland must overhaul flight passenger data law Switzerland must comply with international requirements, but it does not yet have a legal basis to do so, Jans pointed out. The flight passenger data includes information that travellers provide when making a reservation: first name, surname, contact details, itinerary and method of payment. + ...