German surveillance system needs reform to remain a credible advocate for digital rights, argues GPPi director

In an op-ed for Deutsche Welle Online, Thorsten Benner argues that Germany needs to reform its intelligence policies for it to remain a credible advocate for digital rights in the international community. Benner argues that German policymakers must put its intelligence services on a tighter leash. The Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) has built an extensive apparatus that gathers intelligence around the world, including the singling out of millions of messages, real time social network surveillance and tapping into commercial internet exchange points.