While I was writing the previous entry on this blog, I visited the KDEmod website Strangely enough, the usual KDEmod page was gone and replaced by something completely different entitled "Dear user". I didn't have time to read it through, but when I finally got around to reading it, I was surprised to find out it was a protest against new German laws about data retention.

KDEmod tean protests German government's new law on data surveilance

I will try to show some support for their protest by copying the text verbatim below.

Dear user,

yesterday, the german parliament passed a law about the so called data retention (telecommunication observation). From 2008 onwards it will be possible to trace who has contacted whom via telephone, mobile phone or e-mail for a period of six months. In the case of mobile calls or text messages via mobile phone, the user's location will also be logged. Anonymising services will be prohibited, and IP-addresses will also be logged.

The data that will be collected about the entire population will allow our movements to be traced, any calls or communications with business contacts to be monitored and will remove privacy in our personal relationships. It also allows the content of communications to be analyzed, content such as personal interests and the individual life circumstances of the person communicating. Access to the data is to be granted to the police, public prosecutors, secret services and foreign states which hope for better prosecution of crimes.

Whats the problem?

* Data retention constitutes an excessive invasion into our personal privacy.
* Data retention disrupts professional activities (e.g. in the fields of medicine, law, clergy, journalism) as well as political and business activities that rely on discretion. It ultimately harms our free society itself.
* Data retention doesn't prevent terrorism or crime. It is unnecessary and can easily be circumvented by criminals.
* Data retention violates the human right to privacy and informational self-determination.
* Data retention puts a financial strain both on businesses and consumers.
* Data retention discriminates against users of telephone, mobile phone and internet services in comparison to other means of communication. Data retention constitutes an excessive invasion into our personal privacy.

History seems to recur. It looks like in 1932, where the government began to arm against its own citizens, thus accomplishing the requirements for a dictatorship. In our opinion, this is NOT reasonable under any circumstances!

As a form of protest, the KDEmod website will show this message until sunday evening CET. The forums and our bugtracker will be accessible as always until then...

Perhaps this is the time for you to read George Orwells book "1984"...

Thanks for your understanding

your friendly KDEmod maintainers