Judge Says NSA Can Continue To Destroy Evidence

Germany To Begin Formal Investigation Into NSA Surveillance -- But Only Of Angela Merkel

from the one-rule-for-them,-one-rule-for-us dept

Fri, Jun 6th 2014 5:28pm — Glyn Moody

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.

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.

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.

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Filed Under: angela merkel, germany, high court, nsa, surveillance

19 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jun 2014 @ 5:34pm

Its still good that they are moving forward.

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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Jake, 6 Jun 2014 @ 5:46pm

You know, a hundred years ago they'd have declared war over this.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jun 2014 @ 5:49pm

I'd like to hear more about this alleged phone tapping evidence on the Chancellor. German authorities must have more evidence than simply the Ed Snowden leaks, because the those leaks also state the German people were under mass surveillance.
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Tom Stone, 6 Jun 2014 @ 6:42pm

Re: Merkel Surveillance
Merkel and Obama are Rulers. Rules are made by them for the little people.
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bill of laden, 6 Jun 2014 @ 10:04pm

Merkel is a Babe
I wonder if wire tapping charges will be brought against Alexander or Clay. We can dream right?
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jun 2014 @ 10:32pm

Re:
Strange we are not also hearing about the spying on the rest of the German politicians that was reported to be going on as soon as Merkel was promised that the US would end spying on her.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jun 2014 @ 10:49pm

Re: Merkel is a Babe
Might as well have fun and give them a reverse exile like George Bush has - if they go out of the country they will be arrested.
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justsomebloke (profile), 7 Jun 2014 @ 12:17am

Those evil folks at NASA
Well you can hardly blame poor old Harald Range for it. As far as he is concerned the NSA is innocent. GCHQHCQG he's not sure about.

He apparently has evidence that it is the evil NASA operating the dragnet...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovb6u0cdVXU
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jun 2014 @ 12:25am

I find it amazing that all this spying stuff is necessary.

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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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jun 2014 @ 12:37am

Nobody likes it when people have info on you that they shouldn't have. NSA/GCHQ hate Snowden for his surveillance of them. Merkel hates the NSA. Us? Who cares about us.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jun 2014 @ 12:53am

"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."

Hit the nail on the head
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Felix Atagong (profile), 7 Jun 2014 @ 2:07am

Merkel
That is because the German (and Dutch, and French, and English...) secret services are exactly doing the same on their own people.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jun 2014 @ 2:20am

so, because she is the head of Germany, it is important that she is protected from surveillance done by any country, including, i assume, her own. but no one else matters? it isn't important to get the surveillance of every single person on the planet stopped, as long as something can be done to stop it being done to Merkel? nice going guys! shows that all us mere mortals are good for is working our nuts off and filling the coffers of whoever wants the money that's made!
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jun 2014 @ 4:31am

Another fine piece of "journalism" from Glyn Moody.

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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Nicholas Weaver (profile), 7 Jun 2014 @ 6:06am

They aren't investigating because they cooperate..
The German government is a user of the NSA X-KEYSORE (the main Internet wiretap) software as well. They outright participate in the bulk monitoring of their citizens. The Stazi would be proud.
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GEMont (profile), 7 Jun 2014 @ 8:19am

Global fascism
"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. "

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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David, 7 Jun 2014 @ 8:30am

On a different tack
A German satirist speculated that wiretapping on the private phone of the German chancelorette was not as much done for political than internal reasons: two weeks of eavesdropping duty on her was likely used as punishment for egregious misbehavior.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jun 2014 @ 9:44am

So spying is only bad if it's done on der untermensch?

/subtle Godwin
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Jun 2014 @ 1:31pm

"we need more evidence before we could possibly risk upsetting the US."

Well yeah, duh. Doesn't anyone remember WWII? :-)
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