Germany to expand Internet surveillance

According to Der Spiegel, Germany's intelligence agency has a 100-million-euro plan to expand Internet surveillance. Meanwhile, the interior minister wants travelers to fill out a questionnaire before entering the EU. 

Der Spiegel reported on Sunday that the Federal Intelligence Service plans to expand its Internet surveillance program to cover 20 percent of all communications between Germany and foreign countries.

Because of technical limitations, the intelligence agency - known by its German acronym, BND - currently only monitors 5 percent of all Internet and telephone communication. However, according to German law, the BND can snoop on a maximum 20 percent of all communications traffic.

The 100-million-euro ($133 million) expansion targets the BND's "technical reconnaissance" division, according to Der Spiegel. With the money, the agency wants to hire 100 new employees and expand its computer and server capacities, the weekly magazine reported.

Read more: Der Spiegel: Germany to expand Internet surveillance | News | DW.DE | 16.06.2013