 | http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/german-lawmakers-consider-using-typewriters-to-counter-espionage/article/390003 |
German lawmakers consider using typewriters to counter espionage
Posted Jul 15, 2014 by Walter McDaniel
After the latest information on the extent to which the German government is being spied on, reports say that a few politicians want to go back to using typewriters since there are a few notable advantages to them.
This is an example of a very old Triumph-Adler typewriter. Russia recently picked up some modern versions and other governments are taking a look at them.
Flominator
As a matter of fact, we have – and not electronic models either... Yes, no joketo reporters. This off-the-cuff comment, noted by the Guardian, demonstrates how important the spying situation is to them. The downside of course is that you cannot share the information as quickly. Some assert that this quick speed combined with U.S. fears about Russian moles in Germany may have been the reason that the surveillance was allegedly so widespread. The big advantage of a typewriter is that a "mole" would either have to be in the same room or have access to the report after it was done. For this reason there are reports that Russia is already using them as well. They even bought specialized ones keyed to specific members of their government so that they can track them.