By IRNA

Berlin : Germany's upper chamber, the Bundesrat, approved a measure here Thursday under which German authorities could pass data of flight passengers to US intelligence agencies, news reports said.

As part of the controversial legislation, US officials are authorized to record personal data of air passengers for 15 years.

Germany's lower house, the Bundestag, gave green light to the bill last month.

In July, the European Union signed an accord with the US, whereby the personal data of all passengers booked on US-bound flights from Europe is submitted to the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) once the flight departs.

German privacy advocates have repeatedly criticized the recording and passing of personal information, saying it would violate the privacy rights of people.