NAN – The UN counter-terrorism committee has called for expanding the use of Advance Passenger Information (API) to stem the movement of foreign terrorist fighters.
Hassan Baage, Deputy Director, Assessment and Technical Assistance, Office of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), said this on Friday in New York at a counter-terrorism meeting.
API is an electronic communications system that collects a passenger’s biographical data and basic flight details provided by an airline carrier.
The data is collected from the passenger’s passport or other government-issued travel document at the time of check-in and includes details such as a passenger’s name and date of birth.
Baage said there were indications that no fewer than 25,000 people had travelled abroad from more than 100 countries to join terrorists groups, including the Islamic State.
He said based on a report by CTED, only 51 UN member states currently use an API in spite of their potential to enhance border and aviation security.
Baage said a number of factors were responsible for many countries’ reluctance touse the API, including the complexity of the systems and the high degree of technical skill required.
“With respect to the low usage of API, privacy and data-protection concerns have received the most attention as potential causes.
He said in order to overcome the key challenges the UN committee had recommended partnership between the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM),
Other parties to be involved are the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
A UN Security Council resolution in 2015 called member states to require airlines operating in their territories to provide API to appropriate authorities in order to detect passenger departures from their territories.