Passenger Privacy Protection Act of 2019

“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).”