Forbes: FBI used travel company data for surveillance

Forbes: FBI used travel company data for surveillance

The FBI doesn’t have to rely on spy databases or phone records to collect a huge amount of information about suspects: you can, for example, simply contact a travel company for help. Forbes reported that the FBI is using information from Saber, the world’s largest holder of travel data, to spy around the world. Officials reportedly asked the company not only to provide information about past trips but also to actively spy on targets right during the trip.

In December 2019, the FBI asked Saber to conduct real-time surveillance of a fugitive from India, Deepanshu Kher, for six months. The firm had to provide data on business trips, transactions, or reservations of this person, who, as a result, was caught in January and placed under house arrest. Travel data has also been used to catch people like Alexei Burkov, the alleged operator of a credit card fraud site, according to Forbes.

Scott Eells / Bloomberg

Saber isn’t the only major travel data operator (the other two are Amadeus and Travelport), but the company has been in the spotlight in the past, helping the US track down those involved in the 9/11 attacks. However, a new report claims the Saber was used to actively monitor suspects and criminals in the interests of intelligence agencies. This speaks to significant privacy concerns, as companies like Saber store vast amounts of personal data.

Neither Saber, nor Deepanshu Khera’s lawyer, nor the Ministry of Justice responded to journalists’ questions or commented on this information.