Introduction
Information sharing is a procedure in which data possessed by private companies is provided to government institutions on request. The extensive knowledge possessed by various companies enables the discovery and prevention of threats and vulnerabilities if a specialized organization compiles and analyzes it. However, the law is controversial, as it provides government institutions with significant amounts of personal information, particularly in the case of aviation companies.
U. S. Laws on Information Sharing
The United States employs information sharing in the private sector extensively. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (n.d.), various programs are currently in use. Most of them involve exchanges of information between members of different industries as well as the government and are voluntary. At the same time, according to Nemitz, Posner, McLaughlin, and Zittrain (n.d.), the U.S. have not adopted the “right to be forgotten.” The right would allow persons to request that data available online, particularly personal information, be removed from search results and therefore made unavailable to institutions such as the government.
Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) are a significant part of the information sharing strategy in the U.S., as they provide considerable benefits to companies that choose to work with them. There is such a center responsible for the aerospace industry, and its goals are the sharing of threat information and the fostering of trusting and mutually beneficial relationships in the sector (Aviation Information Sharing & Analysis Center, n.d.). The organization provides its partners with data that results from the analysis of a variety of confidential sources and is highly accurate.
Aviation Information and Security
Airlines provide a fast and convenient way to travel, and their rigorous security means that the companies possess a significant amount of information on their customers. According to Botelho, Morgan, and Cullen (2016), the European Parliament, which has implemented required information sharing for aviation companies, expects that the data can be used to discover suspicious behavior patterns. If a person frequently travels via airlines that comply with the requirements, their movements can be accurately traced, and their lifestyle and habits can be determined using this information.
At the same time, the measures possess a significant effect on deterring crime and terrorism due to the factors described above. Extensive information sharing can be considered invasive and infringe on people’s privacy, but the gathered data may be highly valuable in crime investigations. If information-sharing practices were to be stopped, the nation would become less secure, although the people who use airline services would enjoy enhanced privacy.
Conflicting Requirements in Information Sharing
Varying information sharing legislation leads to conflicting partnership requirements within the United States and cross-border territories. For example, if a government agency discovers a weakness in a popular cybersecurity solution after criminals exploit the vulnerability to break into a system, it has a duty to report the issue to the public. However, it is also in the best interest of the law enforcement to avoid letting the culprits discover that their methods are now known, as the information can be used to catch them if they attempt a similar approach again.
Medical practitioners are another category of people who possess significant amounts of personal information. However, the Data Protection Act limits their ability to disclose that knowledge lawfully. As a result, they often cannot act on their suspicions that a child is being abused. The last example is cooperation between various government agencies, which often prefer to keep their information concealed from each other. The PATRIOT act improved the situation by providing tools that allowed law enforcement organizations to work together, but the field still contains numerous complications.
Conclusion
Information sharing is a valuable tool for the prevention of crime and terrorism, but it raises questions about privacy. These concerns are especially valid for aviation companies, as their procedures involve gathering extensive amounts of data about their customers. Furthermore, conflicts occasionally happen between the U.S. and the EU regarding information sharing. In general, however, the U.S. is relatively lax in its data sharing requirements when compared to other countries.
References
Aviation Information Sharing & Analysis Center. (n.d.). About us. Web.
Botelho, G., Morgan, K., & Cullen, S. (2016). Airlines flying in, out of EU to share passenger data in anti-terror effort. CNN International. Web.
Nemitz, P., Posner, E., McLaughlin, A., & Zittrain, J. (n.d.). The U.S. should adopt the ‘right to be forgotten’ online. Web.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (n.d.). Information sharing. Web.