alexrpt
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Well if you can’t beat them, join them. That what Germany is planing to do with regards to media surveillance and citizen spying. One would think that after Edward Snowden’s revelations about NSA tapping German Chancellor Angela Merkel phone and listening in to her private conversations, that Germany would take the high road in regards to government surveillance. Unfortunately, big brother has other plans for the German population. From RT:
Germany’s spy agency is working on a 300 million euro project that would extend its digital espionage program and allow the monitoring of Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks in real-time, according to documents obtained by local media.
“This year, the BND {German foreign intelligence agency) intends to improve its technological methods in order to be able to systematically analyze blogs, online forums and portals, such as Flickr, Facebook and Twitter…[where] messages, pictures and further data are exchanged among members,” German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung reported. Broadcasters NDR and WDR had similar reports, citing confidential files.
Good to see that all the usual social media suspects will be covered in the intelligence roundup, and analysed in real time to boot..now were talking.
Dubbed ‘Real time analysis of streaming data,’ the project will be part of the Strategic Technology Initiative (SIT) and is reportedly due to run until at least 2020.
In addition to the increased internet surveillance, the BND also plans to improve technology for automatic face image and biometric recognition.
The BND can’t take all the credit for their surveillance upgrade and innovations. They did have some good mentors in the spy game…
It is reported that the methods the BND plans to use will be partly based on those practiced by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).
The BND’s project would allegedly also include the analysis of metadata – an NSA practice which came to light after Edward Snowden’s revelations.
So, what does Germany and the BND have to say for themselves, as always when asked, the BND refused to comment on the reports.
References:
http://rt.com/news/162812-germany-spy-monitor-facebook/
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
