The newest poll by the ZDF shows disturbing amounts of support for the surveillance of private computers by police forces. The numbers are especially disturbing, as there has been a lot of activity in recent months by civil rights activists against these new powers.
September 2007 and 2008 have seen the largest data protection demonstrations ever, which have been organised by the working group against data retention. The Green party has launched a portal datenschutz-ist-buergerrecht and most recently have Länder governments refuse to ratify the bill on a reform of the powers of the federal office for criminal investigations due to concerns about data protection.
Particularly striking is the strong support among FDP supporters, as the party leadership has styled itself as the liberal defender of civil rights. The least surprise provide supporters of the Green party, who has been staunchly opposed the proposal from the beginning.
What is even more worring is the fact that almost a third of all respondents would support surveillance without judicial oversight. This blatant disregard of fundamental safeguards puts – once again – doubt on placing decisions on internal security issues in the hands of citizens when they are not well informed and able to make an informed choice (i.e. no referenda).
Some background
The German interior minister and the governmenthave been lobbying for a new competence to be able to search the computers of suspects of serious (and some not so serious) crimes. This activity has cumulated in the recent bill for a reform of the competences of the federal office for criminal investigations (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA).
The idea to give the police competences to spy the private hard disks of citizens has enraged civil society and civil right activists. For a comprehensive coverage from activists’ point of view see netzpolitik.org and the newspaper taz (both in German). From the European Digital Rights initiatve some information is available in English here and here.
