Germany approves controversial law.

• Position: PRIVACY - Federal Criminal Police Office - BKA-law - Brief article

The German government has passed the "BKA-law," which gives the Federal Criminal Police (BKA) controversial extra powers to fight terrorism.

Among the contested powers is the provision that allows the German police to legally engage in audio and video surveillance of private homes. Searching the databases of private computers via the Internet will also be allowed, though the BKA will not be allowed to break into a suspect's home to install "spy" software, as was originally proposed by Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union.

A last-minute compromise was successfully incorporated into the new law after being approved by a parliamentary arbitration committee. The compromise, demanded by civil liberties advocates, includes a provision that requires a judge to approve all online surveillance operations, even in emergencies. The data must also be evaluated by two BKA officers, in addition to the personal data protection agent, to make sure it does not invade a suspect's privacy.

Despite these safeguards...