Germany To Begin Formal Investigation Into NSA Surveillance -- But Only Of Angela Merkel
from the one-rule-for-them,-one-rule-for-us dept
The German government has been trying to avoid upsetting either the US by denouncing the large-scale surveillance being carried out by the NSA in its country, or the German people by not denouncing it. It finds itself in the same quandary as regards opening a formal investigation into the spying, which is probably why it has held off for so long. But now, the German authorities have come up with a sort of compromise, as GigaOM reports:
Germany's federal prosecutor has launched the country's first formal investigation into the activities of the NSA in Germany, specifically the U.S. intelligence agency's reported bugging of Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone.
Leaving aside the question just how much evidence the federal prosecutor needs before he investigates whether the German people have been subjected to US surveillance -- a signed confession from President Obama perhaps? -- the other issue here is the astonishing lack of sensitivity this move displays. The German government seems to be saying that spying is outrageous and must be investigated immediately if it's directed against the powerful; but if it's against the little people, then, well, sorry: we need more evidence before we could possibly risk upsetting the US.
Harald Range said on Wednesday that the other potential avenue of investigation -- that of the surveillance of the German people -- remained open, though no investigation was being launched yet due to a lack of evidence.
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Filed Under: angela merkel, germany, high court, nsa, surveillance
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Sometimes we have to support the small steps for others to feel comfortable (and supported enough) to go forward with the big steps.
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Re: Merkel Surveillance
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Re:
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Merkel is a Babe
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Re: Merkel is a Babe
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Those evil folks at NASA
He apparently has evidence that it is the evil NASA operating the dragnet...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovb6u0cdVXU
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Feel much the same way about datamining on the internet. Speaking of which, the Firefox addon Disconnect shows that 25 attempts have been made here with one screen refresh. That's repeat attempts from 11 dataminers present on this site.
If it's not the government, it's ad companies and data brokers.
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Hit the nail on the head
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Merkel
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How about mentioning that Germans have mandatory procedures to follow once prosecutor is formally notified of a crime?
Or am I asking too much?
What they also have at state and federal levels is private bill of indicment (a citizen handling prosecution in criminal court). Just ask GW Bush.
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They aren't investigating because they cooperate..
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Global fascism
Seems to be saying.......
Hell, that's precisely what they are saying, and in truth, that's pretty much globally government policy. Peasants, taxpayers, human resources are not VIPs and deserve no special treatment unless and until they revolt, at which point policy dictates massive violent force be applied immediately.
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On a different tack
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/subtle Godwin
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Well yeah, duh. Doesn't anyone remember WWII? :-)
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