When Edward Snowden alerted the media to the extent of global intelligence surveillance programmes in 2013, he sparked investigations and debate into the gathering of data by intelligence agencies worldwide. He is now contributing to the debate again, submitting written testimony (the Statement) to the investigation of the EU Committee on Civil Liberties (the Committee).

Last week, Berlin looked to be taking some concrete steps to address shortcomings in data privacy treaties. Germany’s foreign and justice ministers sent a letter to their European counterparts suggesting that an “additional protocol” be added to Article 17 of the UN’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights “that guarantees the protection of the