netzpolitik.org

netzpolitik.org is a German language news website on digital rights and digital culture. Among other topics, it covers mass surveillance, open source software, data protection and privacy and net neutrality. The blog was founded in 2002 by Markus Beckedahl, who still leads the project today, supported by more than 30 other contributors.[1]

netzpolitik.org
logo
Type of site
Blog
Available inGerman
Ownernetzpolitik.org e.V.
Created byMarkus Beckedahl
EditorMarkus Beckedahl and ~30 other persons
URLnetzpolitik.org
Launched2002
Content license
CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0

Treason investigation 2015
Netzpolitik.org authors Markus Beckedahl (right) and Andre Meister (left) at protest against treason investigations in Berlin, August 2015

In Spring 2015, netzpolitik.org leaked internal government documents which detailed the proposed surveillance expansion of social networks by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, an intelligence agency, by producing two articles, first in February 2015[2] and then in April 2015.[3]

On July 31, 2015, netzpolitik.org announced:

Today, we received a letter from the Federal Attorney General of Germany confirming ongoing investigations against our reporters Markus Beckedahl, Andre Meister and an "unknown" source, suspecting us of treason according to the German Penal Code.[4]

Up until that point, they were known to have been witnesses in the case, but this letter confirmed that they would be investigated as "joint principals".[4]

The last time such charges were brought against a journalist in Germany was in 1962 amid much uproar, when the editor-in-chief of Der Spiegel was accused of treason for publishing secret documents about the German defense forces, and spent 103 days in prison (see Spiegel affair).[5]

In the aftermath of the treason investigation, Federal Minister of Justice Heiko Maas forced Public Prosecutor General Harald Range into retirement for breach of public trust on 4 August 2015.[6][7]

Political views

The bloggers describe themselves as a platform for digital freedoms, specifically fighting against mass surveillance. netzpolitik.org is extensively reporting on the ongoing intelligence scandals, consequently live-covering the German parliamentary investigation committee on NSA surveillance. Besides this live-blogging, there is a broad evaluation and commenting on the insights won in the committee.[8] The bloggers have vigorously criticized surveillance laws and practices for many years.

References
  1. "Über Uns". Retrieved 2015-07-31.
  2. "Geheimer Geldregen: Verfassungsschutz arbeitet an "Massendatenauswertung von Internetinhalten" (Updates) | netzpolitik.org". 2015-03-29. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
  3. "Classified Department: We Unveil the New Unit of the German Domestic Secret Service to Extend Internet Surveillance | netzpolitik.org". 2015-04-17. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
  4. ""Suspicion of Treason": Federal Attorney General Announces Investigation Against Us In Addition To Our Sources". Retrieved 2015-07-31.
  5. (www.dw.com), Deutsche Welle. "A scandal rocks the young federal republic | Germany | DW.COM | 10.10.2012". DW.COM. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
  6. Michael Nienaber (2015-04-08). "Germany sacks top prosecutor in row over treason inquiry". reuters.com. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  7. Staff writer(s) (2015-04-08). "German Attorney General Sacked over Treason Case". en.haberler.com. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  8. Live-Blogging and commenting on the German parliamentary investigation committee since May 2014

Press review: Treason Investigation 2015
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