The digital surveillance in Germany has had a conceivably long-term impact on the media industry. Spyware companies that specialize in hacking into phones and computers of media personalities and citizens provide information to the state in compliance with legal commitments and regulations for law enforcement and anti-terrorism efforts. Olivia Rademacher, a student majoring in journalism at the Katholic University of Eichstaett- Ingolstadt, said that digital surveillance and tracking measures have become an interest of state actors to spy on their citizens.

“Tracking measures are not only for state interest but also could infringe on civil liberties and human rights since the measures allow the use of spyware to hack into personal phones and computers,” Rademacher revealed. She added that there would be no privacy since the spyware will know each and everything that is happening in one’s life without their knowledge and such technological innovations, such as artificial intelligence, are reshaping the digital space and change the way the public behaves.

In 2020, Reporters without Borders listed Gamma as a digital predator in Germany that used surveillance and intrusion software to get access to applications and personal data on smartphones that included photos and GPS data.  Sophie Hepach, a freelance journalist at a newspaper in Germany said that digital surveillance strongly applies to investigative journalists and it is an exchange for freedom of the press and democracy but that they lack digital rights awareness

‘‘I am a no body and that’s why I am not affected by digital surveillance. However, I believe it’s a great danger for journalists since their work is directly undermined. But the ones affected most are the investigative journalists who depend on information from sources that they prefer not to reveal,’’ said Hepach. DW Academie, Deutsche Welle’s center for international media development describes Digital Rights as human rights applied in the digital sphere that allow citizens to use the internet and digital technologies in a safe and self-determined way.

According to DW Academie, Human rights apply online just as in the offline world. However, digital technologies pose specific challenges to the fulfilment of human rights. Yves Simon, a professional editor at the Antenne Bayern Group, said that these regulations could violate human rights and therefore government should be at the forefront of putting its commitment to human rights ahead of digital surveillance. “I don’t consider digital surveillance as a problem because it has set a different agenda and a debate about cyber-attacks from Russia and other countries which poses as a problem for press freedom,” Yves said.

Yves further said that the German government and other civil society organisations need to advocate for Digital Rights by defending and promoting the right to information, the right to privacy, and the right to freedom of expression thus media development. The German parliament amended two laws in June, 2021 granting enhanced surveillance powers to the federal police and intelligence services to hack into phones and computers. Such policies against press freedom represent a clear danger for freedom of opinion and expression which is guaranteed by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Germany was ranked 13th out of 180 countries by the Reporters without Borders (RSF) in 2021 World Press Freedom Index.