Google May Close Gmail Germany Over Privacy Law

Matt writes "Google is threatening to shut down the German version of its Gmail service if the German Bundestag passes it's new Internet surveillance law. Peter Fleischer, Google's German privacy representative says the new law would be a severe blow against privacy and would go against Google's practice of also offering anonymous e-mail accounts. If the law is passed then starting 2008, any connection data concerning the internet, phone calls (With position data when cell phones are used), SMS etc. of any German citizen will be saved for 6 months, anonymizing services like Tor will be made illegal."

In other news

[Timesprout]

GMail Poland excutives were looking rather nervous after this announcement.

Minimum Flare

[Portikon]

I wonder if they are going to start requiring their citizens to wear flare as well.

Re:Privacy != anonymity

[BoberFett]

I notice that you're using a pseudonym rather than posting under your full, legal name. What are you hiding?

Re:Minimum Flare

[Anonymous Coward]

I wonder if they are going to start requiring their citizens to wear flare as well.

I believe they tried that once, along with a friendly salute. Apparently it didn't go down too well...

Re:Privacy != anonymity

[Wellington Grey]

I notice that you're using a pseudonym rather than posting under your full, legal name. What are you hiding?

He's a bounty hunter, Mr Fett.

-Grey [wellingtongrey.net]

Re:Phew!

[Anonymous Coward]

"Now what about all those other metrics we use to measure privacy?"

That's why the US doesn't use metrics.

Re:They have the infrastructure in place

[icepick72]

And now that they're retaining Internet usage records and can trace your Slashdot comment back to you, you will receive a knock at your door to register the remainder of the equipment.

Re:Brazil has had such laws for years

[Anonymous Coward]

Jag är en svenska-talande finne, du insensitive bigot!

Re:so will it be a crime to have open 802.11 route

[tfried]

How does germany plan on enforcing this?

What do you mean, how do they plan on enforcing this? Since when do lawmakers around the world need to worry about this sort of praticalities when passing idiotic internet laws? How could they possibly be expected to? Next thing you'll want them to actually understand the technical issues before making a decision, eh?

Re:so will it be a crime to have open 802.11 route

[maxwell demon]

*Puts insecure wireless router into gas chamber*

And that helps?

Yes. It will kill all the bugs.

As a Greek...

[gchat]

...I'm happy that the members of my parliament doesn't even know what Internet is!

Re:They have the infrastructure in place

[Lars T.]

Does anyone (any Germans in the house?) know what they DO with this? Why is it required to register my phone? Why?

Relax, it isn't the evil government asking you for the data, it is the benevolent mega-corporation - your data is in safe hands.