Germans protest government spying

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in the German capital, Berlin, in protest against the country’s surveillance and data collection programs.

According to protest organizers, about 6,500 people participated in the demonstration, calling for stricter control on German intelligence agencies.

Members of more than 80 pro-transparency and anti-surveillance groups such as Electronic Frontier Foundation, Reporters Without Borders, Digital Courage, and Amnesty International took part in the rally from the Brandenburg Gate to the Federal Chancellery.

The Opposition Greens, the Left Party, as well as authorities from different German sectors also joined the march under the motto “Freedom not Fear.”

Human Rights organization Amnesty International’s Sebastian Schweda encouraged protests against the “government versus the people” game.

“The disclosures of the last months showed the whole world that the right to privacy is being dramatically eroded,” he said.

The protests against Germany’s spying activities on its citizens come as Berlin has been criticizing Washington for carrying out spying activities against the European country.

National Security Agency (NSA) documents released by US whistleblower Edward Snowden last October, revealed that the US had been tapping Merkel’s phone since 2012, provoking outrage in Germany. The relations between Washington and Berlin have strained since.

Last month, the head of the US spying agency CIA in Germany was expelled.

Berlin has also announced that it had discovered a US spy in the country’s defense ministry.

Recent reports also suggest that Germany’s foreign intelligence agency has been spying on Turkey since 1976.

SZH/HMV