US criticized for air passenger data negotiations with new EU member states News
US criticized for air passenger data negotiations with new EU member states

[JURIST] A European Commission [official website] official on Wednesday sharply criticized as "unacceptable" American attempts to negotiate with newer EU member states, reportedly offering to allow visa-free travel in exchange for extra air passenger data. Directorate-General for Justice, Freedom and Security Jonathan Faull [official profile, PDF] said American negotiations with individual EU member states were disrespectful to the EU system. While it was unclear what demands the US had made in its negotiations, Faull suggested the US might have asked EU countries to surrender the data of people who fly over US territory. The United States already has a data-sharing agreement [text, PDF; JURIST report] with the EU, and most EU passengers do not need a visa to travel into the United States. The US government's refusal to allow all EU citizens visa-free travel into the United States, though, coupled with the new bilateral negotiation attempts, could put US citizens' visa-free travel to EU member states in jeopardy, Faull said.

Under the existing agreement, air carriers transmit passenger data directly to the Department of Homeland Security within 15 minutes of a flight's departure for the United States, and DHS collects 19 pieces of data. Additionally, EU citizens are allowed to seek compensation and redress pursuant to the US Privacy Act [text; JURIST report]. AFP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.