India And USA Join Hands In Fight Against Terror
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The United States and India may be close to reaching an agreement to share databases regarding terror. The information shared between the two countries is from the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) in the U.S. and India’s intelligence bureau.
“Negotiations are still on, and nothing is final yet. However, a mutually favourable framework is close to fruition,” a government source said. “India expects that if it signs the agreement, it will also be provided ready access to information on internet content hosted on US-based servers that could give leads in counter-terror operations.”
TSC was was formed in 2003 following concerns raised after 9/11. It maintains and operates the U.S. government’s consolidated Terrorist Screening Database or “Terrorist Watchlist” – a database containing information on people known to the authorities or suspected in involvement in terror activity.
This is a department managed by the FBI, acting as a bridge between law enforcement agencies in the United States – the Department of Homeland Security, the intelligence community, and international partners. According to the FBI, the joint tracking list is one of the U.S.’ most efficient tools against terror, in that it allows the central agencies to detect terrorists trying to purchase visas, enter the country, board a place or any other activity. India, of course, also has a part in sharing this information, when according to the agreement it could share with the U.S. details on terrorists and wanted criminals in the country.
Let’s hope that the U.S. and india are well aware of the growing possibility of information leaks as a result of such agreements. In Decemeber 2012 authorities in Switzerland have arrested an information technician working for the Swiss intelligence bureau, who was suspected of stealing information. Authorities believed he was planning on selling the stolen data to foreign bodies or commercial buyers, and it seems that those who had the most to lose were the U.S. and Britain, who collaborate with the Swiss intelligence bureau frequently and have exchanged information often. And so, in spite of these cooperations being productive to the effort against terror, they also carry with them quite a lot of dangers.
