Wed, July 11, 2012
Government offices could sell private information on personal identity cards to interested marketing companies if a controversial law already passed by the German lower house of parliament is given the green light by the upper chamber.
The German government, responding to massive pressure from both inside and outside its coalition, appears intent on changing the law. Critics say the law was whisked through parliament in an undemocratic fashion.
Following hefty criticism from nearly every corner, the German government is backing away from the bill.
The government now believes that the legislation will be changed via parliamentary procedures, government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Monday.
His comments come after a storm of protests from data protection rights groups, opposition politicians and even members of Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government.
