German president concerned over NSA wiretapping

German President Joachim Gauck said on Friday he was concerned about the US National Security Agency (NSA) wiretapping, and demanded German government enter into binding agreements with allies' secret services. Expressing his concerns to the Passauer Neue Presse regional newspaper, Gauck said he wondered whether it was still safe to send emails and talk openly on the phone. “I never thought that the fear that secure communication was no longer possible could ever arise in Germany again,” said Gauck, adding this was exactly what had happened in the past weeks. “The scandal has really troubled me. To be honest with you, I've also thought about whether I can still talk on the phone or send an email openly at all,” he said. He further stated that the state had a duty to protect citizens from the threat of terrorism, but this must always be done with respect for the right to private communication guaranteed in Germany's constitution. Referring to whistleblower Edward Snowden, Gauck said, "Whoever brings information to the public and acts on grounds of conscience deserves respect." Gauck also demanded the government enter into binding agreements with Germany's allies to secure these freedoms. "We have to make sure that even our allies' secret services respect the boundaries we find necessary here. A binding international agreement - if that was what was needed - should be created urgently to safeguard civil rights," he added.