Germany's Patriot Act Measures?

The Associated Press reported November 12 that the lower house of Germany's parliament passed new anti-terror legislation that would allow spying on computers and wiretapping conversations by the national police force. It is expected that the legislation will also make it through the upper house.

Germany, like much of Europe, has a serious problem with Islamic radicals. Despite concerns over infringement on individual privacy rights, the legislation allows "...a warrant allowing police the right to spy on a suspect's computer or hard drive, tap their telephone conversations and watch and eavesdrop on their homes."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081112/ap_on_re_eu/eu_germany_terrorism;_ylt=AimjJCrBlbEKdGDgVPtPjSN0bBAF

Comments: 6

Sam C. Nov 13, 2008, 8:39am EST

"Warrent." Key word. Not blanket executive authority designed to supercede all legal oversight. Warrents are what law abiding governments seek. Despots do what they can to avoid basic rights.

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Greg R. Nov 13, 2008, 8:43am EST

The Bush administration was allowed to take action without a warrant as long as they went back after the fact (not sure if it was 48 hours or 72 hours) to get the warrant.

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Jack E. Nov 13, 2008, 10:10am EST

Bush was allowed to act like any common thug and spy on innocent people. All your email and everything you do on the internet is saved by your ISP service and Bush can have it any time he wants it. This is hardly protecting the public he is supposed to be serving.

Bush is going to make billions on the information he has taken in ways that have destroyed our rights to privacy and the only people he can track are the people that do not commit crimes anyway.

The congress and courts were brain dead or just plain cowards to allow Bush to get away with his insurrection against the American public.

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Dusty W. Nov 13, 2008, 10:47am EST

I'm really surprised Germany hasn't had an attack yet. Considering the way they treat Muslims in that country. I don't know how much this new law will help though. Watching people and acting effectively on information gathered are two separate things. Just because you have the information, doesn't mean it will be used wisely.

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Christopher K. Leavitt Nov 13, 2008, 2:38pm EST

Germany has been attacked, before 9/11. There was the bombing of a German disco in the mid '80's, which killed mostly US servicemen, and of course, the Munich Olympics of 1972. It appears that in recent years, terrorists like to use Germany as a place to plan attacks, rather than carry them out. Attacking Germany, post 9/11, would have brought this kind of legislation, if not even stricter laws, sooner. It's a good thing that they're doing it now.

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Diana Raabe Nov 13, 2008, 9:20pm EST

Warrant -yes, that's the operative word.

"Considering the way they treat Muslims in that country..."

And just how is that?

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Germany's Patriot Act Measures?

Comments: 6

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