Official airport iPhone app prompts privacy fears

Enforce the DPA?

BAA will cry national security or some such (though not being a nationally owned...) since this is a very obvious breach of the data protection act, specifically the third principle since I can't understand why any data is necessary when users can browse the same content online without hassle.

Reason for registration

It is so when some nutter gets throught the wet paper bag that is security at, say, Stansted Airport, (as security in such places is largely misdirected) and runs amok, they can add everyone who ever downloaded the app to the list of people "likely to have material of use to terrorists" and arrest them and search their houses. And computers/smartphones etc

Remember, the train timetable and a map of the tube was useful to the 7/7 bombers.

The only proper way ...

to answer unnecessary requests for personal information such as this is with a first name of "Noneof" and a surname of "Your Business".

And the perpetrators should be forcefully reminded by the Information Commissioner that asking for unnecessary personal information is a criminal offence.

ps -- posted anonymously only because I can !

Might be illegal

I think it may be illegal to collect personal data without a hint what for - and especially if there is no obvious need for it at all. I'd call the Information Commissioner's helpline and get an opinion..