BERLIN, April 24 (RAPSI) - The Federal Constitutional Court in Germany has stated that the Antiterrordatei nationwide anti-terror file database is legitimate, but has ordered lawmakers to make changes to the system, German media reported on Wednesday.

The database was created in 2007 to facilitate information-sharing between the German armed services to prevent terrorist attacks.

The database incorporates files from all law enforcement agencies and special services concerning Islamists who may pose a threat to the country, as well as the people with whom they have had contact. As of today, the database contains files on more than 16,000 individuals. Many of them are no longer living in Germany.

A former Berlin lawyer appealed to the Constitutional Court, claiming that the database abuses the right of German citizens to protect private information.

The court ruled that the database is legitimate. Creating a database is acceptable because "all tools available in a state governed by rule of law will be employed to combat terrorism," the court said. At the same time, the court ordered to adjust the legal framework pertaining to this database by Dec. 31, 2014, but did not list the required amendments.