The European Commission's legal counsel has warned that an agreement between the EU and U.S. to store airline passenger data for 15 years is unlawful, The Guardian reports. The passenger name record (PNR) deal is now being finalized and needs the approval of the European Parliament, but the legal counsel's May 16 document raises "grave doubts" that the agreement complies with data protection law. The legal opinion particularly lists the provisions requiring data storage for 15 years, the lack of independent oversight and proper legal recourse if data is misused. One parliamentarian said the legal advice is an indication that the commission should drop the PNR agreement and go "back to the drawing board."
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