German
spy agency to 'monitor Facebook, Twitter in real-time’
RT,
31
May, 2014
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.
According
to the German media sources, the BND is seeking to form a “more
exact picture of the situation abroad" and "better
understand political and social developments abroad by gathering
online communication [from those areas]."
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.
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.
According
to the reports, the program would be granted a 300 million euro
(US$409 million) budget which Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, is
set to approve in the coming weeks.
To
ensure the Bundestag supports the project, the spy agency has
reportedly warned lawmakers that a failure to modernize the country's
surveillance program will cause Germany to fall behind its
counterparts, including those of Italy and Spain.
The
BND refused to comment on the reports.
"We
do not comment on questions regarding our operations except to the
Federal Government and the responsible secret parliamentary
committees," the BND’s spokesperson told DPA news agency.
The
BND’s plans have been condemned by the opposition, which is
demanding that the surveillance upgrade be halted.
"The
Left will do anything to prevent this madness," said Jan Korte,
a member of Germany's Left party. He pointed out that it has been
almost a year since it was revealed that the NSA spied on Germans -
and now Germany is trying to do the same.
The
German Greens party has joined the Left Party in protesting the BND’s
plans.
"Before
new technical possibilities are created, the work of the BND abroad
must be in principle reconsidered,” said Green party politician
Hans-Christian Ströbele, a member of the German parliament’s
intelligence oversight committee, who met with Snowden in Russia.
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