Deutsche Post supports intelligence services 1494 Deutsche Post employees support fight against terror

Bonn · Nearly 1500 employees of Deutsche Post support the intelligence services in their investigations against terrorists and other serious criminals. The operations are directed from Bonn.

1494 employees of Deutsche Post DHL are currently involved in state surveillance of items sent by post. This has emerged from the answer given by the Federal Government to a question raised by Die Linke Party. The surveillance measures help, for example, in inquiries against terrorists or other serious criminals.

As the answer revealed, the measures are directed by a five-person team in the Post’s headquarters in Bonn. The 1494 Post employees include both managers, who coordinate the measures, as well as staff, who search for the postal items and hand them over to the authorities. All of the employees were subject to security checks.

In principal, postal secrecy in Germany is protected under Article 10 of the Grundgesetz (Basic Law). The G-10 Commission decides whether letters can be open and read by the intelligence agencies. Its members are appointed by the Parliamentary Control Committee.

Die Linke party’s domestic affairs spokesperson, Ulla Jelpke, reacted with alarm: “The high number of around 1500 employees involved in postal surveillance at Deutsche Post alone, leads to worries of a shockingly high degree of surveillance.” The government did not want to give any official information about the extent of surveillance. This could lead to inferences being drawn about the actions of government agencies and harm Germany’s interests. Those affected do not notice anything: the letters are resealed and delivered.

(Original text: Claudia Mahnke. Translated by Kate Carey)

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