The U.S. Department of Transportation has dismissed a claim filed against Northwest Airlines that accused the carrier of violating its own privacy policy when it gave government officials passenger . . .
The U.S. Department of Transportation has dismissed a claim filed against Northwest Airlines that accused the carrier of violating its own privacy policy when it gave government officials passenger information related to the Sept. 11 attacks.

The department ruled late last week that Northwest's privacy policy, which was published on the airline's Web site, does not preclude the company from sharing data with the federal government, specifically when asked to do so. In fact, the department found that Northwest, which is based in Eagan, Minn., is required by law to make records, including passenger data, available to federal agencies "upon demand," according to a statement.

The complaint, filed by consumer privacy watchdog Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), which is based in Washington, D.C., and the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union, contended that Northwest engaged in unfair and deceptive practices when it shared passenger name and record data with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

The Ames Research Center at NASA had sought the information in the months following Sept. 11 to aid in its efforts to make air travel safer, according to the Transportation Department.