On 31 May 2008, privacy activists organized new rallies in more than 30 cities across Germany.
Following the November 2007 protests under the motto "Freedom not
Fear"("Freiheit statt Angst"), thousands of citizens participated in
this year street actions.
Numerous demonstrations, rallies, information events, as well as
workshops and art performances sent clear signals to protect
constitutional rights and limit the rampant proliferation of
surveillance.
The rallies had the goal of demonstrating to the ruling grand
coalition, a decisive NO of citizens to the blanket collection and
storage of data, as well as to the surveillance of all details of daily
life. The activities were therefore supported by a multitude of notable
organizations and allowed new alliances to be formed in many cities.
This underlined the growing force developing behind the well connected
movement, the work group stated.
According to the German Work Group on Data Retention (Arbeitskreis
Vorratsdatenspeicherung), the nationwide protests were a full success:
"We were able to use the numerous smaller and larger activities to
raise awareness in the population and win new supporters. The responses
were positive throughout," explained Ricardo Cristof Remmert-Fontes,
one of the organizers of the activities.
In Hamburg, Frankfurt (Main), and Munich, peaceful conventional rallies
were held which received a large turnout. In Munich, 2500 people
additionally demonstrated against the draft of a new law restricting
the right of free assembly.
In order to depict the loss of privacy, activists in Nuremberg reacted
with an art installation by erecting an entire living room in the
city's pedestrian zone. In Bonn, the installation "Transition to
surveillance" visualized current developments.
In Jena, over-sized surveillance cameras were set up, while in Berlin,
a host of talks, hands-on workshops and a preview of the art piece
"Pigeon Project" were presented.
The live-broadcast of events over radio, realized by a network of
independent radio broadcasters, also premiered on the day. The
recordings will be available for listening on the website of the German
Work Group on Data Retention.
The German Work Group on Data Retention is now preparing multiple
Europe-wide campaigns which will culminate in mass protests in 11
October across all of Europe. "This is just the beginning – we will
continue!" commented Michel Blumenstein during the Berlin activities of
the work group.
German Press Release from German Work Group on Data Retention (only in German, 1.06.2008)
The "Pigeon Project" – international artists of the Amsterdam Sandberg Institute
Recordings of the independent radio station broadcasts (only in German, 31.05.2008)
Petition against the BKA law (Federal Criminal Police Office law) (only in German)
Source: EDRI-gram "German Protests in over 30 cities against surveillance" Number 6.13, 2 July 2008
