[j_baker]

I seriously doubt that Merkel's intentions are pure on this. For starters, we know that Germany has given some degree of cooperation in NSA spying, including allowing the US to build an army base that will be used by the NSA[1]. Secondly, we know that the BND used the NSA's systems for its own intelligence purposes[2].

Something tells me this is as much (if not more) an attempt to put European users' data within reach of European spy agencies as it is about protecting European users' privacy. I suppose the upside is that it ensures that peoples' data is in the hands of their own governments rather than being in the hands of governments they have no control over.

[1] http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/edward-snowden-acc...

[2]http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-intellige...

[weinzierl]

You comment made me curious how many US army bases there are on German ground. More than I expected:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Army_inst...

(Not saying they are used by the NSA.)

[pstuart]

But they're important to protect the US from Nazis! Do I have to go Godwin on you so you realize how vital this is?

[waps]

Initially, they were. Then they became important to protect Europe from the Soviets. I would argue that to some extent they're still fulfilling that function.

But please make no mistake. The extreme right is still popular in Germany and generally in northwest Europe, in some places commanding ~35% of the votes. Far left (meaning having political positions not even American "communists" would support) commands another 10-15% of the vote, even in East Germany where, let's just say that a lot of the population has good reason to distrust them.

[junto]

Although that has some truth, I would also argue that in today's Europe, the fact that the US has military bases in Germany is more standing on the left foot of the German state. In other words, if you stand on someone's foot, they can't move around that much without you knowing what they are doing.

[justin66]

> Initially, they were. Then they became important to protect Europe from the Soviets. I would argue that to some extent they're still fulfilling that function.

I've got some news for you about the Soviets. I hope you're sitting down...

[bbosh]

Personally, I'd rather my information be in the hands of the United States rather than my own governments (the United Kingdom -- unfortunately it's with both!) Your own government can do more against your interests than a foreign government can.

[aragot]

Yes, she intends to put the information of Eu citizens under Eu citizen's spy agencies.

That's what we call sovvereignity. And that is the problem with the NSA.