German Law on Online Searches Ruled Unconstitutional

A German law authorizing online searches of personal computers is unconstitutional, the country's top constitutional court ruled, narrowing Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble options in combating terrorism. The law authorized the state of North Rhine-Westphalia's intelligence agency to access personal computers, networks and Internet communications. Online searches could comprise access to hard drives, monitoring what a user is typing on a keyboard and listening in to telephone conversations via the Internet.

German Law on Online Searches Ruled Unconstitutional bloomberg.com Thu, Feb 28, 2008