[Infowarrior] - Big Brother Eyes German Journalists

[Richard Forno]

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 1, 2007, 05:48 PM
URL: http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,514872,00.html
PRESS FREEDOM UNDER ATTACK
Big Brother Eyes German Journalists

By Markus Brauck, Marcel Rosenbach and Markus Verbeet

In the wake of 9/11, European countries have been busy enacting
controversial mandatory data retention laws. Now draft legislation by the
German government would make it easier to monitor virtually all
communications by journalists -- effectively ending source confidentiality
and press freedom.

Press freedom in Germany is under attack.
DPA

Press freedom in Germany is under attack.
It may soon no longer be a good idea to tell a journalist something
confidential over the phone in Germany. It would also perhaps be prudent to
avoid sending e-mails, faxes or text messages. In the future, sources might
be better off furtively intercepting reporters on their way home, writing
letters, or sending smoke signals.

As of Jan. 1, 2008, this kind of cautious behavior may be advisable -- that
is if the German parliament, the Bundestag, approves a bill next week that
would effectively remove all protection of journalists' sources when it
comes to telecom and Internet communications.

If this happens, all newspapers and magazines will perhaps also be well
advised to print warnings like the labels found on pharmaceutical and
cigarette packaging: "Caution -- an effective protection of sources can no
longer be guaranteed."

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http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,druck-514872,00.html