Thousands protest in Germany over personal data protection
13 September 2009 | 03:58:12 PM | Source: AAP
More than 10,000 people took to the streets of Berlin, police said, to demand better protection of personal data after a number of scandals.
Police put the number of demonstrators at 10,000 while unions and political parties which organised the protest said there were around 20,000.
"We must say a clear 'no' to the folly of government surveillance," said co-president of the Greens Claudia Roth.
Data protection activist Thilo Weichert said "surveillance and censorship" were undermining the fundamental rights of citizens.
Following a string of scandals involving the sale of confidential information such as bank details and addresses the German government beefed up protection measures.
However, an anti-terrorist law was adopted by parliament in 2008 which allows surveillance by the police and secret services.
Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1089922/Thousands-protest-in-Germany-over-personal-data-protection
* * *
world news 13/09 00:23 CET
Data protection march in Berlin
Demonstration
More than 10,000 people have been demonstrating on the streets of Berlin to demand better personal data protection.
Under the banner “freedom not fear”, as many as 167 organisations including unions, journalists and artists’ groups marched through the German capital.
The protest follows a the passing of a law allowing authorities to monitor internet activity.
Green Party leader Claudi Roth said: “We have to fear a surveillance state, where everyone is a general suspect and the right of freedom, the right of privacy is breached.”
With federal elections due later this month organisers hope to remind politicians of what they say is their responsibility to ensure the same freedoms of public speaking remain in place on the net.
“That’s where people meet now,” said Network New Media spokesman Ralf Bendrath, addressing the crowd. “It’s about the rights of people in public places, not about the freedom of the internet itself.”
tags: Demonstration, Germany, Society
Source: http://www.euronews.net/2009/09/13/data-protection-march-in-berlin
* * *
World » Europe
167 organisations have backed a rally against increased digital surveillance in Germany.
March against 'surveillance state'
Sunday, September 13, 2009 » 04:18pm
Concerns surrounding the brave new digital world have hit the streets in Germany, where 167 organisations have backed a rally against increased surveillance by the state.
Thousands marched through the streets of Berlin under the theme of Freedom not fear.
The protesters held banners reading 'Against the surveillance state' or 'My data is mine'.
A Green Party spokesperson said she feared the coming of a surveillance state where everyone was a suspect.
The group 'Network New Media' said they wanted to ensure citizens had the same rights to freedom of speech and privacy for activities they conduct online as they do in the public sphere.
According to the organisers 20 000 people joined the demonstration. The Berlin police spoke of 10 000 protesters.
Source: http://bigpondnews.com/articles/World/2009/09/13/March_against_surveillance_state_372184.html
fALK sez, "This video shows a peacefull protester being beaten by policeman at the 'Freedom not Fear' demonstration that was totally peaceful. The demonstration was attended by 25.000 people and called for by more then 160 groups that are concerned about privacy, censorship and freedom. I personally have been close to the beating and the police acted provocative in the time before hand - encircling one truck that took part at the demonstration and pulling out people harshly - there will likely more videos surface over the coming hours. " I hope you help spread the word about this incident and help us find the brutal policeman.
freiheit statt angst / freedom not fear - demo 12.09.2009
posted in: Civlib , International , Video , human rights , politics
