<p>Watchdog agency <strong>Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF)</strong> is claiming that German&rsquo;s foreign intelligence agency &ndash; Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) &ndash; spied on foreign journalists including employees of <em>Reuters</em>, the<em> New York Times</em>, and the BBC.</p>
<p>But why spy on journalists? They are not major players on the political stage, nor do they make policy decisions. However, ferreting out a journalist&rsquo;s anonymous sources could provide a politician with valuable information before that information hits the news (sort of like giving a presidential candidate a debate question ahead of time). Also, anonymous sources in foreign governments if discovered could become blackmail or bribery targets and converted to German intelligence assets.</p>
<p>The BND came under suspicion last October when German newspaper <em>Der Spiegel</em> accused the agency of spying on the Vatican, European and US government ministries, and non-governmental organizations like the Red Cross and Care International. ;</p>
<p>According to a <em>Der Spiegel</em> report released last Saturday, the BND has monitored at least 50 fax numbers, telephone numbers, and email addresses belonging to journalists around the world (since 1999). ;</p>
<p>This spying includes a phone used by the <em>NY Times</em> in Afghanistan, tapping into the BBC headquarters in London, and monitoring <em>Reuters</em> offices in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria. ;</p>
<p>These accusations make Chancellor Angela Merkel seem like a hypocrite, especially after she self-righteously announced that &ldquo;friends don&rsquo;t spy on friends&rdquo; when the NSA was accused of spying on her personal cellphone in 2013. ;</p>
<p>Germany&rsquo;s Nazi history has bred an overwhelming sensitivity to surveillance and military power that continues to this day. Press freedoms are highly valued. ;</p>
<p>Germany&rsquo;s G10 law gives intelligence agencies leeway when it comes to spying &ndash; but it specifically protects journalists. A reform law, which went into effect this January, gives the agency additional power in cases where spying provides &ldquo;information of significant for [Germany&rsquo;s] foreign policy and security.&rdquo; ;</p>
<p>RSF director Christian Mihr condemns the new law as a &ldquo;clear breach of the constitution.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;What is missing from the new law is an exception for journalists of the kind that exists (in the law governing domestic intelligence),&rdquo; said Mihr. ;</p>
<p>The BBC has also criticized the BND&rsquo;s spying, asking &ldquo;all governments to respect the operation of a free press,&rdquo; and insisting that all journalists &ldquo;should be able to operate freely and safely, with full protection for their sources.&rdquo; ;</p>