Unease over information deal with US

THE European Commission was last night accused of abusing private citizens’ right by conceding to American pressure on a data protection controversy.

Transatlantic airlines such as Aer Lingus will be forced, from early next month, to provide US authorities with the names, addresses, phone numbers, itineraries and credit card details of all passengers flying to the United States.

EU Transport Commissioner Ms Loyola de Palacio confirmed the EU agreed to give US authorities personal information of US-bound passengers as part of the fight against terrorism.