Spying days are not yet over for the Germans. Now, it gets more advanced as Germany’s highest court decided to allow limited Internet surveillance in situations where lives are in danger or possible attacks to the country.

Based on the decision of the Constitutional Court, a judge must first approve any plans of online surveillance to suspected individuals or groups. It also prohibits any intelligence agencies to use information if it is connected to private lives.

This decision has reversed the law used in the western state of North-Rhine Westphalia in 2006 which allow the government absolute power to hack the computers of suspected terrorists.

Though this is less severe than the previous law, there are still concerns about abuse of privacy considering the dark past of Germany such as the Nazis and the communist rule. Another problem very visible here is the drafting of “clear guidelines” which could open up multitude of debates.

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