Brussels, 30/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 30 July 2010, Germany's federal data protection and right of information commissioner Peter Schaar criticised the Swift agreement on the transfer of Europeans' bank information to the United States for counter-terror purposes. The agreement is due to come into force on 1 August 2010 but he says it does not comply with the European Charter of Fundamental Rights or the EU data protection directive. Schaar says the volume of data supplied to the United States is likely to be far too high and data access criteria are too open. Schaar says that like in the past, most of the information supplied to the US authorities can be expected to be about people not involved in any way, shape or form with terrorism. He says the five-year retention period for the information is “disproportionate” and the verification powers of independent controllers, like the one to be appointed by the European Commission, are extremely feeble. (B.C./transl.fl)