Luiz 4,253 Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Germany's BND intelligence agency sends mammoth amounts of phone and text data to the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) each month, Die Zeit Online reported, highlighting the scale of spying cooperation which has unleashed a political row here.Critics have accused Chancellor Angela Merkel's staff of giving the nod to the BND to help the NSA spy on European firms and officials. They also say officials lied about the prospects of a U.S.-German "no-spy deal" before the 2013 election.Polls show the scandal is starting to hurt popular Merkel whose office is responsible for the oversight of intelligence.Citing confidential documents, Die Zeit Online reported on Tuesday that of about 220 million pieces of meta data gathered per day, some 1.3 billion pieces per month go to the NSA.The data includes raw material from phone calls and text messages which shows contact details and times of activity but does not contain content. In particular, it sends raw material on foreign communication in crisis regions, said Zeit Online."It is questionable as to whether this practice is covered by German laws," wrote Die Zeit, citing a BND official responsible for data protection.A spokeswoman for the BND declined to comment on the report. The agency has now halted its Internet surveillance for the NSA, German intelligence sources said last week.Privacy is a potent issue in Germany due to extensive surveillance by Communist East Germany's Stasi secret police and also by the Gestapo in the Nazi era.Revelations by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden about widespread espionage in Germany by the United States caused outrage in Germany when they surfaced.A Forsa poll on Tuesday showed that the opposition Greens, who have led criticism of the government over German spying, had profited from the row, climbing 2 points to 12 percent while Merkel's conservatives dropped 1 point to 41 percent.That follows an Infratest Dimap poll last week that showed Merkel's approval rating was down five points to 70 percent in the wake of the spying scandal.Merkel, who argues that Germany has to work with the NSA to fight terrorism, tried on Monday to deflect criticism, saying her staff acted "to the best of their knowledge and in good conscience". Media reports had said Washington never offered Germany a no-spy agreement as Merkel and senior aides had said.http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/12/uk-germany-spying-idUKKBN0NX1IN20150512?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic 49,376 Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Mess. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bionic 50,111 Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Good thing everybody hates privacy, right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphine Prince 109,654 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 LOL. Wasn't Merkel criticizing the US last year for spying on her? The hypocrisy. Everyone knows the NSA isn't only used for US intelligence. It works with other nations as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc 4,776 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 This is only a big thing because the SPD needs to get more voters and this is a good way to still be in a government with Merkel (with not very social politics) while at the same time keeping their voters by pointing the finger 'you did this!'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melech 9,900 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 This is only a big thing because the SPD needs to get more voters and this is a good way to still be in a government with Merkel (with not very social politics) while at the same time keeping their voters by pointing the finger 'you did this!'. I doubt that will harm Merkels reign though. It is nearly to no reported here She will stay win in 2017 if we want to or not Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melech 9,900 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 LOL. Wasn't Merkel criticizing the US last year for spying on her? The hypocrisy. Everyone knows the NSA isn't only used for US intelligence. It works with other nations as well. Yes haha *crawlsinacornerandcries* Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphine Prince 109,654 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Yes haha *crawlsinacornerandcries* It was reported last year that the German government was spying on John Kerry when he went over too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melech 9,900 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 It was reported last year that the German government was spying on John Kerry when he went over too I feel sorry for everything I said. Because it seems that Germany isn't any better. Well no I'm not sorry for what I said. I just extend it to Germany as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphine Prince 109,654 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 I feel sorry for everything I said. Because it seems that Germany isn't any better. Well no I'm not sorry for what I said. I just extend it to Germany as well. But tbh Western nations have to work together against threats. Too bad privacy is being thrown out the window in that process. The NSA has been criticized here a lot though. Thanks to Edward Snowden. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc 4,776 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 I doubt that will harm Merkels reign though. It is nearly to no reported here She will stay win in 2017 if we want to or not Polls are already showing that it has hurt Merkel and her party. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melech 9,900 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Polls are already showing that it has hurt Merkel and her party. For some reason I'm happy to hear it because I hate CDU But tbh Western nations have to work together against threats. Too bad privacy is being thrown out the window in that process. The NSA has been criticized here a lot though. Thanks to Edward Snowden. Of course. It's just all an (interesting) ethical discussion. On one hand it's a weird feeling to be "watched". On the other hand it'd provide terrorist attack and I personally have nothing to hide Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc 4,776 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 For some reason I'm happy to hear it because I hate CDU Of course. It's just all an (interesting) ethical discussion. On one hand it's a weird feeling to be "watched". On the other hand it'd provide terrorist attack and I personally have nothing to hide Yeah. My favourite political party is very, very privacy-oriented, which I really don't understand. Okay, I do have things to hide but I don't expect them to actually read everything I say on whatsapp. I think they just look at suspicious people. It does annoy me and make me feel unsafe when I see police, though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jorgeropero 345 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Remind me of Kingsman haha Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woolfsmck 2,763 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 My life is so boring ... I wish Germany would spy on me .... like a cat in a sil, I observe life, moving and still. My words give a clue,look inside to see whats true Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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