INTERPOL's Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database is a crucial tool in international law enforcement, designed to prevent criminals and terrorists from using stolen or fraudulently obtained travel documents. However, there have been documented cases of misuse that raise concerns about the protection of individual rights and the potential for political abuse.
The SLTD database explained
The SLTD database contains detailed records of travel and identity documents reported as stolen, lost, revoked, invalid, or stolen blank. With approximately 99 million records, it allows law enforcement agencies worldwide to quickly verify the status of documents presented by international travelers. In 2021, the database was searched 1.7 billion times, resulting in 146,000 positive matches that helped prevent illegal border crossings and identity fraud.
Document categories in the SLTD database
The SLTD database classifies documents into various categories, each defining the nature of the document’s compromise:
- Stolen Blank: Blank documents stolen before being issued.
- Stolen: Documents stolen from legitimate holders.
- Lost: Documents reported lost by their holders.
- Invalid: Documents that are no longer valid due to various administrative reasons.
- Revoked: Documents officially withdrawn by issuing authorities, rendering them invalid.
Misuse of the SLTD database
The SLTD database, while powerful, is not immune to misuse. For instance, the Turkish government has been repeatedly accused of falsely reporting the passports of political dissidents as stolen, lost, or revoked, a tactic detailed in a report by Nordic Monitor. These actions severely restrict individuals’ freedom of movement and can result in wrongful detentions—highlighting serious implications that underscore the database’s potential for political abuse.
Complexity in assessing SLTD data compliance
The misuse of the SLTD database and the difficulty in preventing such misuses can often be attributed to significant complexities in data assessment, complicating the implementation of effective oversight mechanisms.
Assessing the data related to passports in the SLTD database involves significant challenges due to the volume of data (approximately 99 million records) and the often limited information accompanying each entry. Unlike notices where the INTERPOL Rules on the Processing of Data (RPD) require minimal information to publish the notices, there are no similar requirements for registering travel documents into the SLTD database. Consequently, passport data entries typically lack sufficient detail, complicating the establishment of effective oversight mechanisms and the verification process to determine the legitimacy of a report.
Personal and legal implications
Individuals often discover their passports are listed in the SLTD only while traveling, which can lead to significant personal and legal issues. Being denied entry in a foreign country or the impossibility of obtaining a visa can disrupt lives and careers. Moreover, the reasons for listing a passport—especially if inappropriately categorized as invalid or revoked—can be difficult to contest and rectify.
Challenging SLTD entries before the CCF
To challenge a travel document recorded in the SLTD database, individuals must approach the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF). As previously mentioned, unlike notices where the RPD set specific criteria for their issuance, there are no such specific rules for the SLTD database entries. Consequently, when assessing the compliance of a passport listed in the SLTD database, the CCF applies general principles of the RPD, particularly article 11 (lawfulness of the proceedings) which requires that data processed in the INTERPOL Information System must be authorized with due regard for the law applicable to the National Central Bureau, and article 12, which mandates that data must be accurate, relevant, not excessive in relation to their purpose, and up to date.
In its role to ensure compliance with INTERPOL’s rules, the Commission first reviews whether the National Central Bureau (NCB) provided sufficient information indicating the legal framework and the legitimate reasons under which the travel document has been recorded in INTERPOL’s files. Accordingly, when conducting its review, the CCF may ask the national authorities that entered the data to provide legal justification and relevant documentation. Failure by a NCB to provide this information can lead to the removal of the contested data from the database, as has been demonstrated in cases where the CCF has ruled in favor of the applicant due to insufficient evidence of legal compliance (see CCF decision excerpt N°4 from 2019).
The SLTD database is an invaluable resource for international security, but its potential for misuse requires vigilant oversight. Protecting the rights of individuals while maintaining the database’s effectiveness involves a delicate balance. As INTERPOL works to enhance its safeguards, the international community must continue to scrutinize and advocate for stronger oversight mechanisms and more stringent criteria for data entry and review.
