Representatives of all opposition factions have sharply criticized the draft law with which the grand coalition is adapting the provisions on stock data information to the requirements of the Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG) and the initiative to “combat right-wing extremism”, which was stopped by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) Hate crime “wants to cure. The FDP network expert Manuel Höferlin feared at the 1st reading of the project on Wednesday in the Bundestag that this threatened the “next crack in the foundation of digital civil rights”.

Work for the Federal Constitutional Court According to Höferlin, the maxim of the federal government in security laws is: “As far and as much as possible.” The Federal Constitutional Court would then have to sweep up the shambles, as was the case with the rules for accessing inventory data such as name, address, and email and IP addresses of Internet users in the summer. The new attempt, for example, would not fix the obligation of social network operators to report to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) linked to the anti-hate law, with which a “suspicion database” is created there. Black and red steer the “next law to Karlsruhe”.

The project is “poorly crafted” and “possibly unconstitutional”, said Niema Movassat for the left to consider. He also described it as highly problematic that network operators themselves had to report suspicious content and related data to the BKA. In addition, there is a dubious procedure: associations should have commented on the first draft by Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) within a week, which was not possible. He advised the government groups to withdraw the paper and treat themselves to “a round of homeschooling in the area of ​​fundamental rights”.

Limiting access The anti-hate law was supposed to be “the reaction to the attack in Halle”, explained the Green Konstantin von Notz. But the coalition “screwed up” it by incorporating the requirements for inventory data information. Even now they are not tackling other central deficiencies such as the threatening “DoS attack on the BKA, clear deletion deadlines and stronger rights of those affected”, although the Greens have shown alternatives such as a two-stage reporting process. In addition, there is the “completely marginal access to passwords” from providers of telemedia services such as WhatsApp, eBay, Facebook, Gmail and YouTube correct and wanted the “master key for any number of platforms”, emphasized Christian Wirth (AfD). The passing on of IP addresses and port numbers is a step towards more repression. In the planned “attack on the free Internet”, Black-Red is also placing sovereignty in the hands of US online companies.

Defense of the government The inventory data information is very important “for the work of our security authorities,” said Nina Warken (CDU). The coalition is now differentiating better and laying down transmission regulations for the service providers and the corresponding collection powers for the police and secret services. The Federal Constitutional Court only asked for “microsurgical interventions” in the form of more precise conditions, added the CSU MP Michael Kuffer. He accused the Greens of glee at every conceivable “weakening of our security apparatus”.

There would now be “stricter rules” for access to customer data and passwords, Uli Grötsch defended the draft for the SPD. “We limit data access rights to particularly serious crimes and specific dangers.” The coalition also wants to saddle up with the initiative: For example, customs authorities and the offices responsible for prosecuting and punishing administrative offenses under state law should be able to access inventory data in order to take action against undeclared work.

Grötsch warned in a hurry so that Steinmeier could soon draft the “Hate Speech” law: “Hate and agitation on the Internet produce murderers.” This was shown not only in the US when the Capitol was attacked, but also in right-wing extremist attacks in Germany. At the 25. A public expert hearing is to take place on January 1st.

(kbe)