United States 116th Congress Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

S 1206 — Passenger Privacy Protection Act of 2019

Last action — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Passenger Privacy Protection Act of 2019 This bill prohibits all aircraft of an air carrier and a foreign air carrier: from having in place cameras and microphones that can monitor passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration shall periodically conduct audits of such air carriers regarding the information they collect with respect to aircraft passengers, including any information obtained through the physical surveillance of passengers.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-121).

Also cites: 49 U.S.C. § 40102

How this bill changes current law

2 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill enacts prohibitions on the installation and use of cameras and microphones on aircraft to monitor passengers.

  • 49 U.S.C. § 41725

    ``SEC. 41725. PROHIBITIONS RELATING TO CAMERAS AND MICROPHONES ON AIRCRAFT. ``(a) Prohibitions.--The following rules shall apply to all aircraft of an air carrier and a foreign air carrier: ``(1) Any in-flight entertainment system installed on the aircraft after the date of the enactment of this section may not have an embedded camera or microphone. In the case where the aircraft has, as of such date of enactment, a existing camera or microphone embedded in an in-flight entertainment system, by not later than 2 months after such date of enactment-- ``(A) the camera shall be either-- ``(i) removed; ``(ii) permanently disabled and covered; or ``(iii) covered in a fashion that prevents the camera from making any observation; and ``(B) the microphone shall be either-- ``(i) removed; or ``(ii) physically disconnected and covered in a fashion that renders the microphone ineffective. ``(2) Any camera or microphone that is designed to observe a passenger and that is separate from an in-flight entertainment system may not be installed on the aircraft after the date of the enactment of this section. Any such camera or microphone that was installed on the aircraft prior to such date of enactment shall be removed within 2 months of such date of enactment. ``(b) Changes to Remote Switches Not Sufficient.--Changes made by an air carrier or a foreign air carrier to remote switches of an in-flight entertainment system are not sufficient to meet the requirements of subsection (a)(1).''.

    This adds a new section that prohibits the installation of cameras and microphones on aircraft to monitor passengers.

  • 49 U.S.C. § 41725

    ``41725. Prohibitions relating to cameras and microphones on aircraft.''

    This creates a new item in the chapter analysis for aircraft regulations.

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety transportation
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Frequently asked questions

What does S 1206 do?
Passenger Privacy Protection Act of 2019 This bill prohibits all aircraft of an air carrier and a foreign air carrier: from having in place cameras and microphones that can monitor passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration shall periodically conduct audits of such air carriers regarding the information they collect with respect to aircraft passengers, including any information obtained through the physical surveillance of passengers.
Who sponsors S 1206?
S 1206 is sponsored by Merkley, Jeff (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 1206?
This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 1206?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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