http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Thu, 23 May 2013 08:07:45 +0200 Thu, 23 May 2013 08:07:45 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/court-orders-google-to-delete-search-suggestions-that-violate-privacy-a-899741.html#ref=rss A German court ruled Tuesday that Google's "Autocomplete" feature on search terms violates privacy laws in some cases. The company has been ordered to remove any suggestions that violate the rules. An entrepreneur sued after the algorithm linked him with Scientology. Tue, 14 May 2013 12:55:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/court-orders-google-to-delete-search-suggestions-that-violate-privacy-a-899741.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/new-memoto-mini-camera-captures-life-in-30-second-snippets-a-897900.html#ref=rss Swedish company Memoto is developing a camera that automatically documents the lives of users by snapping a photo every 30 seconds. The gadget could threaten privacy on both sides of the lens, critics warn. Fri, 03 May 2013 15:32:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/new-memoto-mini-camera-captures-life-in-30-second-snippets-a-897900.html Swedish company Memoto is developing a camera that automatically documents the lives of users by snapping a photo every 30 seconds. The gadget could threaten privacy on both sides of the lens, critics warn.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/special-commission-calls-for-internet-commissioner-in-germany-a-895412.html#ref=rss A special Internet and Digital Society Commission convened by parliament has released several hundred recommendations for addressing data protection and other Internet-related issues in Germany. Chief among them: establishing a permanent Internet commissioner. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:01:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/special-commission-calls-for-internet-commissioner-in-germany-a-895412.html A special Internet and Digital Society Commission convened by parliament has released several hundred recommendations for addressing data protection and other Internet-related issues in Germany. Chief among them: establishing a permanent Internet commissioner.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/the-european-union-closes-in-on-data-privacy-legislation-a-877973.html#ref=rss The European Union is seeking to increase the private sphere of its citizens by strengthening data protection laws for the web. Large Internet firms and lobbyists are fighting the plans. Here's an overview of the debate in Brussels. Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:15:48 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/the-european-union-closes-in-on-data-privacy-legislation-a-877973.html The European Union is seeking to increase the private sphere of its citizens by strengthening data protection laws for the web. Large Internet firms and lobbyists are fighting the plans. Here's an overview of the debate in Brussels. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-state-gives-facebook-an-ultimatum-over-real-name-policy-a-873562.html#ref=rss A German state privacy protection authority issued an ultimatum to Facebook this week: The company can either stop forcing members to use their real names, or face fines. The social networking site says it will fight the demands by Schleswig-Holstein, calling the measures a "waste of German taxypayer money." Tue, 18 Dec 2012 12:05:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-state-gives-facebook-an-ultimatum-over-real-name-policy-a-873562.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/european-parliament-to-debate-own-database-for-flight-passengers-a-871953.html#ref=rss A proposal to require European Union members to store huge amounts of data on flight passengers entering or leaving the EU will soon be up for debate, and the discussion is likely be fierce. Critics say the measure violates travelers' right to privacy. Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:05:40 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/european-parliament-to-debate-own-database-for-flight-passengers-a-871953.html A proposal to require European Union members to store huge amounts of data on flight passengers entering or leaving the EU will soon be up for debate, and the discussion is likely be fierce. Critics say the measure violates travelers' right to privacy. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/anti-trust-suits-threaten-google-from-both-sides-of-the-atlantic-a-863213.html#ref=rss Google has long insisted that it is "not a conventional company." An increasing number of users, competitors and advertisers are starting to doubt that claim. As the intransparent search engine giant expands its offerings, companies that stand in the way claim they are being made to suffer. Anti-trust agencies on both sides of the Atlantic are listening. <i>By SPIEGEL Staff</i> Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:49:53 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/anti-trust-suits-threaten-google-from-both-sides-of-the-atlantic-a-863213.html Google has long insisted that it is "not a conventional company." An increasing number of users, competitors and advertisers are starting to doubt that claim. As the intransparent search engine giant expands its offerings, companies that stand in the way claim they are being made to suffer. Anti-trust agencies on both sides of the Atlantic are listening. By SPIEGEL Staff ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/us-government-and-internet-giants-battle-eu-over-data-privacy-proposal-a-861773.html#ref=rss The US government, together with Google and Facebook, have launched a lobbying offensive against a proposed EU data privacy law that would strengthen users' rights to have information deleted. The issue has divided Germany's government, and privacy advocates think it still doesn't go far enough. Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:29:54 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/us-government-and-internet-giants-battle-eu-over-data-privacy-proposal-a-861773.html The US government, together with Google and Facebook, have launched a lobbying offensive against a proposed EU data privacy law that would strengthen users' rights to have information deleted. The issue has divided Germany's government, and privacy advocates think it still doesn't go far enough.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/increased-drone-use-triggers-privacy-worries-in-germany-a-858003.html#ref=rss Declines in the size and price of unmanned flying devices have led to an explosion in their public and private deployment in Germany. Despite their many benefits, the murky legal environment has many worried that drones could be used for unlawful purposes. Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:27:40 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/increased-drone-use-triggers-privacy-worries-in-germany-a-858003.html Declines in the size and price of unmanned flying devices have led to an explosion in their public and private deployment in Germany. Despite their many benefits, the murky legal environment has many worried that drones could be used for unlawful purposes.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/max-mosley-sues-google-in-landmark-battle-over-digital-rights-a-853008.html#ref=rss Former Formula One head Max Mosley's name is synonymous with scandal thanks to a British tabloid and, years later, Google. Compromising images can still be found using the search engine, and Mosley has launched a broad legal offensive in Europe to force Google to filter out the photos. It could become a landmark digital-rights case. Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:10:21 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/max-mosley-sues-google-in-landmark-battle-over-digital-rights-a-853008.html Former Formula One head Max Mosley's name is synonymous with scandal thanks to a British tabloid and, years later, Google. Compromising images can still be found using the search engine, and Mosley has launched a broad legal offensive in Europe to force Google to filter out the photos. It could become a landmark digital-rights case.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/americans-may-have-to-wait-for-europe-for-better-data-protection-a-849372.html#ref=rss Google has been forced to pay $22 million in fines this week, a record for data privacy violations but small change for the giant corporation. Internet companies benefit from America's lax privacy and data protection laws, which are unlikely to change any time soon. It's a stark contrast to Europe, where the EU wants to toughen its laws -- and apply them to American companies. Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:42:03 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/americans-may-have-to-wait-for-europe-for-better-data-protection-a-849372.html Google has been forced to pay $22 million in fines this week, a record for data privacy violations but small change for the giant corporation. Internet companies benefit from America's lax privacy and data protection laws, which are unlikely to change any time soon. It's a stark contrast to Europe, where the EU wants to toughen its laws -- and apply them to American companies. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-credit-agency-plans-to-analyze-individual-facebook-pages-a-837539.html#ref=rss A leading German credit agency plans to mine Facebook and other social networking sites in search of information that could have a bearing on a person's creditworthiness, according to media reports. But several leading politicians have criticized the plan. Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:03:02 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-credit-agency-plans-to-analyze-individual-facebook-pages-a-837539.html A leading German credit agency plans to mine Facebook and other social networking sites in search of information that could have a bearing on a person's creditworthiness, according to media reports. But several leading politicians have criticized the plan.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-s-pirate-party-seek-to-reinvent-politics-a-829451.html#ref=rss Germany's Pirate Party has gone from a tiny group of hackers to a significant force in an astoundingly short amount of time. Its growing pains are obvious to all, but the party could succeed in fundamentally changing German politics. First it must agree on what it stands for. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:18:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-s-pirate-party-seek-to-reinvent-politics-a-829451.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/ard-reports-siemens-sold-surveillance-technology-to-syria-a-826860.html#ref=rss German engineering giant Siemens and a spinoff company allegedly sold surveillance technology to the Syrian regime, according to a German television report. The government could be using the equipment to crack down on opposition supporters, human rights activists warn. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:18:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/ard-reports-siemens-sold-surveillance-technology-to-syria-a-826860.html German engineering giant Siemens and a spinoff company allegedly sold surveillance technology to the Syrian regime, according to a German television report. The government could be using the equipment to crack down on opposition supporters, human rights activists warn.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/internet-paranoia-are-protesters-acta-concerns-justified-a-816210.html#ref=rss Hundreds of thousands of people have demonstrated across Europe against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, much to the surprise of the continent's politicians. A new protest movement is forming around the issue, amid concerns that users could be severely punished for minor copyright infringements. Meanwhile, Internet experts warn against anti-ACTA hysteria. Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:56:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/internet-paranoia-are-protesters-acta-concerns-justified-a-816210.html Hundreds of thousands of people have demonstrated across Europe against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, much to the surprise of the continent's politicians. A new protest movement is forming around the issue, amid concerns that users could be severely punished for minor copyright infringements. Meanwhile, Internet experts warn against anti-ACTA hysteria.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-transparent-state-enemy-western-surveillance-technology-in-the-hands-of-despots-a-802317.html#ref=rss German companies play an important role in the market for surveillance technology used by Arab despots to spy on their people. In this industry worth billions, the companies also earn their money using methods that have been outlawed in their home country. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:42:26 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-transparent-state-enemy-western-surveillance-technology-in-the-hands-of-despots-a-802317.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/online-defamation-decision-brings-more-complications-than-clarity-a-795492.html#ref=rss Being defamed online can ruin lives and careers, but fighting back is always hard and often fruitless. Germany's Federal Court of Justice has now ruled that people defamed online can get information deleted, but it still forces Internet companies like Google to serve as unwilling judges and arbitrators. Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:37:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/online-defamation-decision-brings-more-complications-than-clarity-a-795492.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/trojan-trouble-the-shady-past-of-germany-s-spyware-a-792276.html#ref=rss Details continue to emerge about the potentially unconstitutional use of spyware by German investigators, including indications they used the controversial Trojan horse program on suspects some 50 times. The future of online surveillance is now in question, and court appeals could also follow.  Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:50:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/trojan-trouble-the-shady-past-of-germany-s-spyware-a-792276.html Details continue to emerge about the potentially unconstitutional use of spyware by German investigators, including indications they used the controversial Trojan horse program on suspects some 50 times. The future of online surveillance is now in question, and court appeals could also follow. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/interview-with-germany-s-justice-minister-this-software-can-do-things-forbidden-by-the-constitution-a-791464.html#ref=rss A Trojan horse that can provide German investigators with unconstitutional access to targeted computers? SPIEGEL ONLINE spoke with Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger about the allegations and whether the scandal could drive another wedge into Chancellor Merkel's governing coalition. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:56:28 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/interview-with-germany-s-justice-minister-this-software-can-do-things-forbidden-by-the-constitution-a-791464.html A Trojan horse that can provide German investigators with unconstitutional access to targeted computers? SPIEGEL ONLINE spoke with Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger about the allegations and whether the scandal could drive another wedge into Chancellor Merkel's governing coalition.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-world-from-berlin-electronic-surveillance-scandal-hits-germany-a-790944.html#ref=rss A German hacker organization claims to have cracked spying software allegedly used by German authorities. The Trojan horse has functions which go way beyond those allowed by German law. The news has sparked a wave of outrage among politicians and media commentators. Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:11:35 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-world-from-berlin-electronic-surveillance-scandal-hits-germany-a-790944.html