Data Sharing Helps Fight Crime, Homeland Security Chief Says

11 October 2012

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano

A formal agreement between Bulgaria and the United States on sharing information on suspected criminals and terrorists will help counterterrorism and law enforcement efforts while protecting individual privacy, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano says.

During a visit to Bulgaria October 9–10, Napolitano signed the "Agreement on Preventing and Combating Serious Crime" with Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov.

“Today’s agreement reaffirms our commitment to working with Bulgaria to combat terrorism and transnational crime,” Napolitano said. “By enhancing information sharing, it will allow law enforcement officials to more quickly and efficiently investigate crimes and prevent the entry of criminals into our countries.”

On October 10, Napolitano, Under Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate Rand Beers, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov discussed collaboration on information sharing, law enforcement, cybersecurity, counterterrorism and border security.

During her meetings, Napolitano encouraged continued progress on rule of law reforms and highlighted collaboration between the United States and Bulgaria on cybersecurity, science and technology. In 2011, the Department of Homeland Security participated in the Cyber Atlantic tabletop exercise, a U.S.–EU effort to enhance international collaboration, which is part of the ongoing U.S.–EU partnership to address shared threats to global networks.

While in Bulgaria, Napolitano, Beers and Bersin also met with Bulgarian nongovernmental organizations and visited the Bulgarian National Coordination Center for Border Security and Sofia Airport to survey border-management and passport-control operations.

Following their visit to Bulgaria, Napolitano, Beers and Bersin will hold similar discussions on information sharing and combating international crime with their counterparts in Turkey October 11–12.