Germany's Highest Court Restricts Internet Surveillance (DW-World.de) [LWN.net]

DW-World.de covers a ruling by Germany's Constitutional Court that limits police online investigations to the most serious cases. "Intelligence agencies will only be allowed to collect data secretly from suspects' computer hard drives if there is evidence that "legally protected interests," like human lives or state property, are in danger, the Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe announced." Here is the ruling (in German). (Thanks to Marc Mutz)

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Germany's Highest Court Restricts Internet Surveillance (DW-World.de)

Posted Feb 29, 2008 17:59 UTC (Fri) by Felix.Braun (subscriber, #3032) [Link]

Oh, and while the judges were at it, they created a new fundamental right in German law: the
right of privacy and integrity for of IT-devices. This new right practically has the status of
a constitutional amendment. It forbids the state from tapping into IT-devices of its citizens
(computers, laptops, mobile phones, pda etc) and from collecting data on these devices.

Germany's Highest Court Restricts Internet Surveillance (DW-World.de)

Posted Mar 1, 2008 22:07 UTC (Sat) by sbergman27 (guest, #10767) [Link]

Meanwhile, here in the US, we can't give away our rights fast enough.

One terrorist strike, 6 years ago, and we folded.  We're still pretty good with the high
sounding words, though.  :-(

Germany's Highest Court Restricts Internet Surveillance (DW-World.de)

Posted Feb 29, 2008 18:06 UTC (Fri) by ber (subscriber, #2142) [Link]

There is an interesting lead article in the German newspaper taz 20080228 (in German) which considers this ruling as unsurprising. The commentator believe that it will not stop secret computer raids and even lower barriers for computer raids which the machine is located in a privat household.

Germany's Highest Court Restricts Internet Surveillance (DW-World.de)

Posted Mar 1, 2008 11:42 UTC (Sat) by mmutz (guest, #5642) [Link]

> There is an interesting lead article in the German newspaper taz
> 20080228 (in German) which considers this ruling as unsurprising.

It is, for techies like us. At least the invalidation of existing passed 
law in that area. However, I think few foresaw that the court would 
introduce a new basic right.

> The commentator believe that it will not stop secret computer raids and
> even lower barriers for computer raids which the machine is located in a
> privat household.

They will continue trying, yes. I'm more optimistic, though. The ruling 
has stricken a fine balance so that every side can live with it, on the 
surface. I think the real showstopper will be the technical side anyway.

Germany's Highest Court Restricts Internet Surveillance (DW-World.de)

Posted Feb 29, 2008 19:05 UTC (Fri) by kay (subscriber, #1362) [Link]

Here you find an english article form heise.de:

http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/104196

Kay

Today, we are all Germans...

Posted Mar 4, 2008 9:21 UTC (Tue) by mmutz (guest, #5642) [Link]

He're more commentary, from a Dutch privacy activist:
  http://rop.gonggri.jp/?p=66