- Germany edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Norway |
- Spain |
- Sweden |
- Switzerland
State police gain power to cut mobile network
Published: 18 Dec 12 12:50 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/sci-tech/20121218-46837.html
The eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt said on Tuesday that it had re-drafted a law in order to let police shut down mobile phone networks in times of imminent danger without the go-ahead from a court. Critics voiced have concern about misuse.
- Nationwide cannabis limit rolls nearer (24 May 13)
- Keep your socks on – autumn is in the air (23 May 13)
- Hipster Berlin dogs get meaty frozen yoghurt (23 May 13)
Saxony-Anhalt would be the first German state to allow this and critics are concerned that police might use their new power to switch off networks during mass demonstrations - something state Interior Minister Holger Stahlknecht firmly denied.
He said that the state's governing coalition of Christian and Social Democrats sat down and agreed on a range of different situations in which shutting off mobile connectivity might be needed. “Demonstrations were absolutely not on the list,” he told the paper.
“Networks would only be shut down or interrupted if a situation seemed to pose a direct, serious threat to the state or country, or the life and limb, or freedom, of citizens,” said the draft.
It added that all mobile phone providers would have to make themselves able to be shut off. Turning them back on would be down to the police.
Rüdiger Erben, deputy chairman of the state's Social Democratic parliamentary group, said redrafting the law was important because it was introduced in 1991 when far fewer people had mobiles.
In Berlin, police may only shut down communications networks without the permission of a court if they think there could be a bomb with a mobile-operated detonator. In Thuringia and Lower Saxony, a judge has to be present if police flip the off switch.
The Local/jcw
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Fan wants Bayern ticket-Oktoberfest beer swap
A Bayern Munich supporter is so desperate to get his hands on a ticket for Saturday's Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund he is offering to trade 20 litres of beer and a rare free table at Oktoberfest. READ () »
Nationwide cannabis limit rolls nearer
Germany could in the future have a country-wide “tolerable limit” for cannabis possession, it was reported on Friday. Currently, this amount differs between states. READ () »
Job centre Facebook spying 'is illegal'
Job centres searching for photos of “ill” people at wild parties or statuses by “broke” people boasting about their new cars were warned on Friday it was illegal to use Facebook to spy on people suspected of abusing the benefits system. READ () »
'Germany is indifferent to neo-Nazi violence'
It's an intriguing premise: Are Germans ready to elect a Jewish politician chancellor? British journalist David Crossland has written a novel exploring themes of racism and neo-Nazi violence in Germany. The Local has excerpts. READ () »
Fraternities mull 'Aryan purity' test for members
Germany's oldest fraternity association could change its membership rules to include only ethnic Germans at their annual meeting this weekend, the country's media reported on Friday. READ () »
'Herrenberg is a colourful, cultural gem'
Get The Local flavour of Germany with our series offering an insider's take on their hometown. This week, Marcy Jarvis talks about her adopted town, Herrenberg. READ () »
Immigrants 'more skilled' than many Germans
Nearly half of all immigrants arriving in Germany are more highly skilled than their host country's residents, a study released on Friday revealed. READ () »
Cardinal: Women should stay at home and breed
A leading German Catholic cardinal says the government should encourage women to stay at home and breed - rather than bring immigrants into the country to solve its demographic problems. READ () »
- 22/05 Rösler wants dual citizenship for IT talent »
- 22/05 Germans bathe easy in clear waters »
- 20/05 Germany grapples with nuclear energy phaseout »
- 14/05 German court cuts off Google's auto-complete »
- 12/05 West tested drugs on '50,000 East Germans' »
- 11/05 Eighty percent of Germans apply for jobs online »
- 10/05 Third of new drugs 'offer no additional benefit' »
- 09/05 Study: shorter winters threaten Alpine wildlife »
- 09/05 How our brains grasp giggles, grunts, guffaws »
- 08/05 Hamburg's technicolour train stop wins prize »
- 24/05 Amnesty wants Hollande to up human rights effort »
- 24/05 Thrill seeker dies 'train surfing' on Paris Metro »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
- 24/05 US and UK issue travel warnings for Sweden »
- 24/05 Swedish firms 'clueless' about foreign graduates »
More news from Sweden at thelocal.se
- 24/05 China moves toward trade deal with Swiss »
- 24/05 Appenzell Innerhoden enjoys 'pure democracy' »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
-
Shiply Worldwide Ltd
Shiply the Online Transport Market Place -
Chambervelt Rooselain & Cie Ltd.
Insurance and financial planning for English speakers in Germany -
Weiss Institut
Free yourself from Smoking addictions, Sugar craving and Alcohol addictions -
PsyShrink Frankfurt
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
PsyShrink Munich
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
British Corner Shop
British Corner Shop - The online supermarket for expats
967 jobs available
678 new jobs this week
131 new jobs today
- Oracle Expert (f/m)
- Vertrieb: Key Account Manager Softwarelösungen / Big Data (m/w) [SNr. 12935]
- (Senior) PLC Programmer (m/w)
- Supply Chain Planner Polyethylene & Packaging Biz Dow Benelux
- Secretary Senior for the Region East Europe (m/f)
- Assistant (f/m)/Assistentin (w/m)
- Data and Reporting Analyst (m/f)
- Operating Officer for Global Compliance m/f
- Customer Support - German Fluent (m/f) Berlin
- Program Manager AG Europe (m/f)
- Apr/09 Touring Tempelhof – Europe’s Largest Historical Monument
- Apr/09 Spring in Berlin 2013 – Where, What Why and When!
- Mar/12 Living Like a Local – Tell us what you think and win a weekend in Berlin!
- Feb/04 Escaping the City – Our Recommended Suburban Getaways
- Feb/04 Berlin Tegel Airport Transfers – How to get into the City
Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your
style? Find a German sweetheart here.
Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather
section.
Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.
Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of
charge.
Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
- Collectivity and Representations of Community in Dance
With its streams of data and traffic, the present age is creating new forms of community. - Living Like a Poem – Sarah Kirsch Dies (05/23/2013)
On 5 May 2013, the poet Sarah Kirsch died after a short but serious illness in Heide in Schleswig-Holstein.... - Food trucks – meals on wheels
Small mobile restaurants are starting to catch on in Germany and they are often far more than your average snack wagons with Currywurst and Pommes. - “Preserve the proven, shape the new” – the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart
For more than thirty years, Helmuth Rilling shaped the international Bach Academy; now he is succeeded by Hans-Christoph Rademann. - ‘Open Mike’ – Fireworks with the Buddha
The Berlin ‘Open Mike’ entered this year its twentieth edition.
- So You Want to Be an Artist
The tradition of hands-on training in the arts is alive and well in Germany. Interested in studying visual, performance, or sound arts? Keen to pursue graphic and product design, textiles, or typography? Germany is home to many exceptional art schools as well as a rich history of excellence in and support for the arts. - Frankfurt's Skyscrapers: A Guide
Frankfurt is known for banks and skyscrapers. So what is behind the colossal glass, steel, and stone facades of the city’s buildings? Meet Frankfurt’s tallest. - Conference - Pioneers on Dual Training Abroad
Germany‘s system of dual training is one of the foundations of its economic strength. - The all-German final in Wembley
Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund are playing in the final of the Champions League at London’s Wembley Stadium. - German first feature film in Cannes
A directorial debut from Germany makes it to the competition “Un Certain Regard” at the famous film festival on the Côte d’Azur.
- Theatre festival between the Saar and the Mosel
The Festival Perspectives in the German-French region around Saarbrücken is staging European theatre, dance and music productions. - The European Year of Citizens
2013 is the European Year of Citizens. - Europe Day, Robert Schuman and Class 4a
Enthusiasm for the idea of Europe – in the 60th European Competition, schoolchildren from Germany show what this could look like. - Relief organizations
The portals presented here provide information on the help programs offered by different organizations.
- Affiliate controller m/f
- Design Engineer Aerospace in Toulouse
- Design Feasibility Engineer / Craftsmanship Engineer (m/f)
- Installation Expert New Installation and Modernization m/f
- Intern Sourcing Europe Dry 2 - Fresh (f/m)
- Internship Recruiting (Job ID: 226748)
- Quality Manager m/f
- Dance Production sucht Ballett-Tänzer
- Global Deployment Expert m/f - Inbound & Outbound
- Global Deployment Expert m/f - Operations Planning
- 19/05 Car Boot Sale Herford
- 17/05 paid internship
- 17/05 Stop Smoking & Addiction Support
- 17/05 Florida resident seeks job in baden Baden Germany
- 17/05 Berlin Writing Group
- 17/05 cheap car hire
- 16:10 Sushi Night (and other Japanese food) (2nd meetup)
- 16:06 Getting a private health insurance cover pregnancy
- 16:00 Meet 'n' Eat - LE pique-nique français
- 16:00 EU will protect us from rogue olive oil
- 15:45 Bank options in Frankfurt area
- 15:43 Media Markt denying me a refund
- 15:42 2013 UEFA Champions League Final
- 15:37 Sweeping the chimney
- 15:18 Tax return after working in France and Germany
- 15:07 Hiking in Rhein-Main-Gebiet
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Your comments about this article:
Germany as a member of the United World Justice League of superheroes and gate keepers of democracy make rules up and govern as they please.
A perfect solution indeed. We should all rally behind Mr Stahlknecht and Mr Erben and praise them for their work.
He really is making a difference and saving lives!
Also, if there was a bomb with a mobile-operated detonator, don't we already have the technology to jam phones on small scale? If we have that, then there is no need for that law at all.
When elementary schoolchildren are gunned down by a citizen with an assault rifle because the state puts the right to bear arms above the right to life, we are shocked.
To answer your little diversion. Do you understand how the constitution even works? The founding fathers gave Americans the right to have guns to protect our selves from THEM. Yes. From the very government they started. So there you go Mr. Einstein. The STATE gave the Americans the right to have guns and thought that it was so important. That they codified it into the bill of rights. Which they purposely made difficult to change. But believe it or not. The constitution can and has been changed several times. All it takes is for congress to conviene a constitutional convention proposing a change. Then a super majority of the states then vote to accept or deny said change.
I can see where it might be needed and I can see where it could be abused - the same as any other police power.