Germany must reimburse telcos and ISPs for mandatory eavesdroppin...
Germany must reimburse telcos and ISPs for mandatory eavesdropping on customers, the German Competitive Carriers Assn. (VATM) was told Mon. by the Max Planck Institute for International Criminal Law. Under the Telecom Act of 2004 Germany is supposed to…
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write a law detailing procedures and rules for reimbursement, but has not, attorney Axel Spies said. Parliament’s Upper Chamber, representing the states, has signaled it might void the provision, sparking industry concern. The issue now is being discussed in the federal cabinet, Spies said. The only law on reimbursement, which carriers say doesn’t cover them, covers witness and expert payments. The Planck Institute said carriers must be able to recoup costs, urging creation of a specific ordinance or amendment to the law. “Whoever calls the piper must pay for it, namely law enforcement agencies and their governments,” Spies said on behalf of the VATM. The group hopes the opinion spurs legislation preserving reimbursement, he said.