The article is devoted to the analysis of the experience of legal regulation of passenger information processing in the United Kingdom and possible ways of its implementation in Ukraine.The relevance of the article is due to the fact that the United Kingdom created its own system of legal regulation of the collection of advance passenger information (API) and passenger name record (PNR) back in 2003, long before the adoption of EU Directive 2016/681. Therefore, this experience, including in the creation and operation of the National Border Targeting Centre (NBTC) as a Passenger Information Unit (PIU), is a valuable reference for Ukraine and can be adapted for the formation of a national PIU in Ukraine, taking into account current legislative initiatives on its institutionalization, as well as the specifics of national legislation, in particular the Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection” and the Law of Ukraine “On Combating Terrorism”. Based on the study of the experience of Great Britain, the conclusion is substantiated on the feasibility of developing in Ukraine the Concept of creating an interdepartmental multimodal PIU for processing information about passengers of international flights of railway, road (bus), sea and air transport, which should contain the following aspects: 1) structure and creation of a domestic PIU, which should include, to ensure effective interaction and coordination, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the State Customs Service of Ukraine and the National Police of Ukraine; 2) personnel training; 3) data processing systems; 4) analysis and targeting to avoid discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.; 5) interaction of the domestic PIU with state bodies and Europol and Eurojust; 6) information protection and confidentiality, which provides for the depersonalization of PNR data after 6 months and the appointment of an independent Data Protection Officer in the PIU; 7) control and supervision with a strengthened role of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to monitor compliance with legislation on the processing of passenger information, with access to data and monitoring criteria; introduction of public control, publication of information on passenger rights on the official websites of authorized bodies, etc.; 8) liability for violations of legislation on the processing of passenger information. As a guideline for determining the amount of fines for failure by carriers to fulfil their obligations to provide PIU information and data transfer forms, the Immigration Act 1971, PNR Regulations 2018, which provides for penalties for violations of up to 10,000 pounds sterling, can be used. It has been proven that the adaptation of the experience of the United Kingdom in the legal regulation of passenger information processing, the creation and functioning of PIU will allow Ukraine to form an appropriate effective system that will take into account the specifics of national security challenges, in particular military realities and hybrid threats. This will not only enhance national security through the expeditious processing of API and PNR, but will also contribute to the fight against terrorism, illegal immigration and organized crime, while maintaining a balance with the protection of human rights and personal data. Attention is focused on the fact that the integration of an interagency approach, the development of our own technological infrastructure, and the implementation of pilot projects will ensure the gradual implementation of the domestic vision of PIU, minimizing risks and optimizing resources. In addition, such a model will contribute to strengthening international cooperation with the EU and other partners, bringing Ukraine closer to European standards in the fight against terrorism, serious crime and ensuring proper border control. In the long term, this will lead to increased efficiency of the relevant authorized state bodies, reduced threats and the creation of a high-quality legal regulation system for the processing of passenger information, which meets both national interests and international obligations of Ukraine.

Journal articles

1. Berezhniuk I, Fradynskyi O, ‘Systemy reiestratsii pasazhyriv (PNR), yak dzherelo informatsii na aviatsiinomu transporti’ [2017] 1 Mytna bezpeka 6–12 (in Ukrainian).

2. Kysil L, Shevchuk N, ‘Obrobka informatsii pro pasazhyriv (API) ta danykh zapysu reiestratsii pasazhyriv (PNR): yevropeiski standarty ta vitchyzniani realii’ [2024] 9 Pravo Ukrainy 104– 121 (in Ukrainian).

3. Kysil L, Shevchuk Ya, ‘Do pytannia pro model realizatsii funktsii zbyrannia informatsii pro pasazhyriv usikh vydiv transportu, zokrema API/PNR’ [2024] 34 Pravova derzhava 467–469 (in Ukrainian).

4. Kysil L, Shevchuk Ya, ‘Instytutsiino-pravovi zasady realizatsii funktsii zbyrannia informatsii pro pasazhyriv’ [2023] 3 Chasopys Kyivskoho universytetu prava 85–91 (in Ukrainian).

5. Kudinov S, Sukmanova O, ‘Poperednia reiestratsiia pasazhyriv yak zasib protydii teroryzmu’ [2024] 40 Naukovi zapysky Lvivskoho universytetu biznesu ta prava. Seriia ekonomichna. Seriia yurydychna 326–332 (in Ukrainian).

6. Leonov B, Shevchuk Ya, ‘Obrobka informatsii pro pasazhyriv yak efektyvnyi instrument protydii teroryzmu’ [2024] 1(48) Informatsiia i pravo 170–179 (in Ukrainian).

7. Nikiforenko V, ‘Administratyvna vidpovidalnist aviapereviznykiv za nevykonannia obov’iazku peredachi poperednikh danykh reiestratsii osoby’ [2020] 5 Pravo i suspilstvo 90–96 (in Ukrainian).

8. Fihura V, ‘Osoblyvosti pravovoho statusu Natsionalnoho tsentru obrobky poperednikh danykh v konteksti funktsionuvannia systemy API/PNR’ [2024] 1(3) Zakon i kordon 201– 219 (in Ukrainian).

9. Filippov S, Marchuk A, ‘Praktychni rekomendatsii shchodo vprovadzhennia systemy obrobky poperednoi informatsii pro pasazhyriv (API/PNR) yak instrumentu protydii transkordonnym zahrozam’ [2021] 44 Pravova derzhava 70–77 (in Ukrainian). Theses

10. Filippov S, ‘Kryminolohichni zasady protydii transkordonnii zlochynnosti’ (dys d-ra yuryd nauk, 2019) (in Ukrainian). 
Websites

11. Pristli E, Bove M, Mizhnarodnyi dosvid ta krashchi praktyky u sferi poperednoi informatsii pro pasazhyriv (API) ta reiestratsiinykh zapysiv pasazhyriv (PNR) (2021) 52 www.osce.org/sites/default/files/f/documents/a/6/510620.pdf> (accessed 19.10.2025) (in Ukrainian).