Germany's Secret Service just charged their leading Civil Rights group on treason for publishing information about the German government's plans to further expand domestic mass surveillance.
This is not different than what has happened in the United States - though the US uses National Security Letters, gag orders, financial and criminal leverage and defamation - its only when these don't work that the US will reach toward the Espionage Act.
We look back in history and question why citizens in history asked their governments to send civil rights activists to prison and to silence certain stories in the press.
Today we get modern answers to these questions at least every few months.
I have polled friends, family and acquaintances: the overwhelming response is that we don't feel safe.
I have also sampled the official stance from press releases and speeches: the overwhelming justification is that we are not safe.
As all things are, the truth is much more complicated.
This is not different than what has happened in the United States - though the US uses National Security Letters, gag orders, financial and criminal leverage and defamation - its only when these don't work that the US will reach toward the Espionage Act.
We look back in history and question why citizens in history asked their governments to send civil rights activists to prison and to silence certain stories in the press.
Today we get modern answers to these questions at least every few months.
I have polled friends, family and acquaintances: the overwhelming response is that we don't feel safe.
I have also sampled the official stance from press releases and speeches: the overwhelming justification is that we are not safe.
As all things are, the truth is much more complicated.