Germany, U.S. to exchange data on terror suspects

BERLIN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Germany and the United States signed an agreement here Tuesday to grant each other access to information on suspected terrorists and serious criminals.

The agreement allows security authorities of the two countries to swiftly access information on suspected terrorists held by the other country's database.

The agreement was signed by German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries and U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey.

The data to be exchanged include name, birth date, nationality, fingerprints and gene data. But the sharing of DNA files will not come into force immediately as the U.S. does not have a DNA database yet.

Critics say the agreement violates Germany's domestic laws protecting privacy.

Wolfgang Wieland, domestic affairs expert of Germany's Green Party, urged the government to be more cautious in exchanging data with the U.S., which still uses torture as an interrogation tool.

Peter Schaar, Germany's independent privacy commissioner, said the U.S.' data protection law is not consistent with that of the European Union and it does not protect databases from abroad.

However, Schaeuble explained that the exchange of databases is aimed at investigating suspects of terrorism and serious crime, and called the agreement an "important step" in the war on terror.

Mukasey hailed the proposed cooperation as a "great achievement" that will make both countries safer.

The agreement still needs to be approved by both the German parliament and the U.S. Congress, expected by the end of the year.

The agreement is based on the Pruem Treaty, which allows sharing of databases among several European countries. The Pruem Treaty, unlike the one between Germany and the U.S., covers a broader spectrum of crimes.