Bulgarian MPs give first-reading approval to air passenger data being given to State Agency for National Security
Bulgaria’s National Assembly approved on January 14 2016 the first reading of legislation that will empower the State Agency for National Security to be sent airline passenger data.
The change is in line with European efforts as part of the fight against terrorism, Bulgarian National Radio said.
The information will be processed only for the prevention, detection and prosecution of serious crimes and in compliance with the Personal Data Act, according to the amendments to the State Agency for National Security Act approved by MPs.
A unit at SANS headed by an officer will receive the data.
Bulgaria and the United States signed on March 23 2015 an agreement on the exchange of passenger information. Despite a lack of a legislative framework, the EU has signed agreements with the US, Canada and Australia on the provision of passenger name record data, Bulgaria’s Cabinet said.
According to the amendments, the data will be transmitted to the national unit by air carriers or their authorized service providers and the national unit of the competent authorities, immediately upon predetermined criteria, or upon request to carry out a specific examination.
The bill specifies the objectives for which data can be processed – the prevention, detection, prosecution, prosecution of terrorism or other serious crimes data that is included in the passenger name record, and for the purposes of border control.
The bill provides for deadlines within which the information should be transmitted by airlines to the national unit – 48 hours before the published departure time or immediately before the flight.
