Germany plans to fingerprint children as young as SIX and give authorities the right to look at private messages on services such as WhatsApp in a bid to prevent terrorism

‘Germany plans to fingerprint asylum seekers as young as six and give authorities the right to look at private messages on services such as WhatsApp to try and prevent terrorism.
Ministers agreed to lower the age limit for fingerprinting minors to six from 14 for asylum seekers.
Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann, a Merkel ally whose south-eastern state is the entry point for many refugees fleeing war in the Middle East, said it was important security services can monitor children.
That proposal encountered strong opposition in the country, where the memories of spying in the Communist and Nazi run deep.
‘Children are victims of extremism,’ said Social Democrat family affairs minister Katharina Barley, who said authorities should be protecting children not spying on their friends.’
Read more: Germany plans to fingerprint children as young as SIX and give authorities the right to look at private messages on services such as WhatsApp in a bid to prevent terrorism