[onion2k]

The state keeps collecting all the data it wants, though.

No, it really doesn't. The state always wants far more data than it collects. It's usually limited to what it actually needs. For example, the state has no reason to build it's own version of Streetview, so it doesn't, but you can be sure that someone in government would love unfettered access to all the data Google collects like the raw photos, details of wifi networks, etc (and in many countries Google probably gives them have exactly that).

If another truly evil government arises and seeks to wipeout vast numbers of their citizens, you can be absolutely certain one of the first things they'll do is to augment the data they already have with the data that's collected by private companies.

For Germany to fight against the collection of that data, and to try to limit who can access that data by paying or coercing Google, is very sensible.

[monomers]

I'll grant you they might want more, but they definitely require more than they _need_, like those two examples I mentioned: as long as I get its mail it's none of its business where I live, and it should definitely not have anything to do with church funding. To be clear I'm also not defending Google. I just wish Germany had a higher standard for privacy vis-a-vis the public institutions.