Travel

Cathay Pacific is ‘SPYING on you through inflight entertainment systems and even recording your movement’


CATHAY Pacific passengers have been warned that an updated privacy policy means their movements and preferences are being recorded by the airline through their in-flight entertainment screens as well as at the airport.

Even worse, the information and images will be stored indefinitely, with the carrier claiming it will be for “as long as necessary”.

 Cathay Pacific is spying on passengers during flights and at the airport

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Cathay Pacific is spying on passengers during flights and at the airportCredit: Cathay Pacific

Their new policy was introduced last week, according to Forbes, which explains that images taken from CCTV on the plane as well as at airports could be held by the airline.

The policy explains that they collect: “Information such as previous travel arrangements, feedback about your experiences, details of lost luggage and other claims, your use of our in-flight entertainment system and in-flight connectivity, your images captured via CCTV in our airport lounges and aircraft.”

This means that Cathay Pacific could build an extremely detailed database of passengers, including what they look like, what they do at the airport and what programs they watch on the plane.

And while the airline can do their best to keep the information secure, they explain: “no data transmission over the Internet […] can be guaranteed to be secure from intrusion.

 The airline updated their privacy policy to explain the new changes

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The airline updated their privacy policy to explain the new changesCredit: Getty – Contributor

“We will retain your Personal Data for as long as is necessary.”

While the information could be used to personalise your experience and comply with local laws, your details could also be shared with “third party partners, for marking purposes”.

The change in policy follows the major data breach last year where 9.4m Cathay Pacific passengers had their data stolen.

Data that was accessed included passport numbers and identity cards.

Earlier this year, passengers on airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Singapore Airlines also spotted cameras within the in-flight entertainment screens.

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All four airlines confirmed that they were not active and were simply installed as part of the tablets by default.

Concerned passengers said they would still be travelling with stickers to put over them.

Airlines were later forced to cover the cameras to “reassure customers”.

Some airlines plan to utilise the cameras by allowing video calling between seats, while Emirates use the cameras to allow first class passengers to video call flight crew.

Passengers who choose to take photographs or videos on a plane, however, could be thrown off.

A number of airlines, particular in the US, have policies which do not allow travellers to take images of crew or others “if it poses a security risk”.

Sun Online Travel has contacted Cathay Pacific for comment.





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