Globalisation, the spread of digital technology and technical resources are used to commit serious criminal offences across national borders. With the help of a passenger name record information system as well as the targeted analysis and storage of passenger name records , the Passenger Information Unit (PIU) in the BKA makes another vital contribution to effectively prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute terrorist offences and organised crime.
The following information video provides you with an overview of how the storage and processing of passenger name records enables security agencies to improve the fight against terrorism and serious crime.
The legal basis for the transmission of passenger name records to the Passenger Information Unit as well as for processing those records is the Passenger Name Record Act, which fully entered into force on 25 May 2018.
The Passenger Name Record Act serves the purpose of implementing directive (EU) 2016/681 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the use of passenger name records (PNR) for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime.
The following information video provides a detailed overview of the reasons for introducing the storage of passenger name records and shows how the system works and how it can be used.
The act obliges airlines to transmit the passenger name records collected in the context of their business activities when operating third country and intra-EU flights to a Passenger Information Unit established at the Bundeskriminalamt. This also applies to passenger name records that other companies involved in the reservation, booking or issuing of tickets transmit to airlines in the context of their business activities. The Passenger Information Unit checks the passenger name records for the purpose of identifying persons that might be linked to terrorist offences or serious crime.
In case of positive matches, the Passenger Information Unit may forward the passenger name records under strict conditions to the appropriate German authorities or the appropriate authorities of the Member States of the European Union with a view to further checks or taking adequate measures.
Passenger name records are retained in a passenger name record information system for a period of five years. Six months after having been transmitted to the Passenger Information Unit, all personal data shall be depersonalised through masking out certain data elements. Upon the request of the appropriate German authorities, of the appropriate authorities of the Member States of the European Union or of third countries as well as of Europol, the Passenger Information Unit may check the passenger name records stored in the passenger name record information system.
Gradually, the airlines will be connected to the Passenger Information Unit and the passenger name record information system will be set up.