1983 Census:Protest without Twitter

With the Basic Law in one hand and a stack of leaflets in the other, citizens' initiatives, lawyers and computer experts brought down a census almost thirty years ago. The Hamburg computer science professor Klaus Brunnstein was there. In 1983 he sat on the plaintiff bench and cheered when the Federal Constitutional Court prohibited the census. Four years later there was a slimmed down version. In an interview with NDR.de, Brunnstein remembers the struggle in the 1980s - and is amazed at the composure of today's Facebook generation.

NDR.de: When did you become aware of the subject of data protection?

Klaus Brunnstein: early 70s. At the time, we asked how a world would change in which digital technologies play an increasing role. We foresaw that governments, agencies and, most importantly, businesses would use these techniques. As early as the early 1970s, it became clear that the lack of transparency could affect civil liberties. It was important to us that the stored data is correct and that those affected know what data is stored.

The problem of re-identification

NDR.de: Why were you against the census in 1983?

Fountain: The statisticians have repeatedly pointed out that the data is anonymised. In 1981/82, however, I and my then graduating student investigated the extent to which one can draw conclusions about the person from the collected data - the so-called re-identification. And it has been shown that the data can be traced back to each individual person if you have the additional knowledge from the population registers.

NDR.de: What happened then, how did it come to be before the Constitutional Court?

Fountain: The development of the great people's movement was rather accidental. That was probably related to the year 1983 - because that was just before the "Orwell year". The media took notice when some lawyers obtained a restraining order from the court, pointing out the risks. As a specialist in technical data protection, I was then involved in the lawsuit filed by several legal IT specialists against the census.

NDR.de: Can you summarize your concerns from back then?

Fountain: The main concerns of the Constitutional Court were legal - whether it would be proportionate to collect the data. That affected me less. I was particularly bothered by the fact that a very large amount of data was to be collected here, the quality of which was not assured. It was clear from the outset that the data would only be available after six or seven years - but then at most 15 to 20 percent of the data would still be reliable. How do you want to plan a kindergarten with it? Second point:In the 1980s, the craze for data collection among authorities and above all companies spread dramatically. Databases for insurance companies, banks, HR departments - that was the big hit in IT.

NDR.de: There were also many calls for a boycott of the slimmed-down version of the 1987 census. Did you fill out a census form at the end?

Fountain: Uhh - to be honest - I don't remember anymore. I think we filled it out and handed it in. I had fewer concerns in 1987. The problem was then settled by the census verdict. There has been a significant reduction in data and framework for storage.

"People were more engaged"

NDR.de: There was no internet back then. How did census opponents "network" in the 80s? How did they manage to mobilize such a strong resistance?

Fountain: With leaflets and phone chains. That was still the 1968 movement that organized itself. We also had the time of the big anti-nuclear demonstrations - that required organizational skills. The fact that revolutions are being made today with Twitter and Facebook - as in Egypt and Tunisia - is a bit contemporary. But I think the deeper effect had the flyers we made ourselves and the phone calls. I think people were more engaged.

NDR.de: Why is it that Germans are apparently hardly interested in the forthcoming census today?

Fountain: We have movements today that say, "Privacy? Fuck it!" For example, there is a group called "Spackeria". The founder has openly said:"Data protection is something for eighties!" I don't think the woman gets what she's getting herself into. A lot of people today don't really care when they read that they could have this tracking software on their iPhone - many people even think that's a good thing. They want to meet up for a beer and they need to know who is in which bar.

"These are the bureaucrats behind it"

NDR.de: Does the state actually need the census? Some scientists say they would prefer voluntary information from a small portion of the population as a baseline.

Fountain: At a time of dramatic change, like our energy situation, we need to totally change the old planning procedures that have taken twenty years to build a bypass, to build a train station. We have to collect the data up-to-date and in consensus with the citizens. That means - no data retention!

NDR.de: Then who wants the census? They're scientists, they're people like you, who want to get hold of this data.

Fountain: No, it's not the computer scientists, and it's not the sociologists either. These are the bureaucrats who are behind it and the politicians who are also unwilling to learn. An example:Stuttgart 21. This has been planned for 20 years and now it is to be implemented, although the circumstances have changed completely.

NDR.de: How do you behave when the meters are in front of your door in May?

Fountain: I haven't received a notification yet. I don't know if I'm in the 10 percent sample. But I would have no hesitation in filling out the questionnaire.

The conversation was Oliver Diedrich, NDR.de