Typewriters may be Germany’s best chance to combat the NSA

The German investigative committee tasked with looking into the extent of the National Security Agency’s meddling in German affairs has decided to go retro in a bid for better security. The committee has acquired a mechanical typewriter, and plans to get more as a way to reduce leaks. The information was provided by the committee’s chairman Patrick Sensburg, who announced the acquisition of a typewriter on German television yesterday morning. The use of typewriters will effectively stomp on modern spying efforts, and will make it doubly difficult for unauthorized parties to get their hands on communications.

Ever since last summer’s leaks about the U.S. National Security Agency’s electronic spying programs there has been much criticism about these actions, not only from the public who believe they are unfairly being monitored but from the country’s allies as well which found through the leaks that they were being snooped upon as well. German Chancellor Angela Merkel wasn’t pleased at all when it was reported that her phone had been tapped. In a bid to keep its data more secure the German parliament’s National Security Agency is now considering a move to manual typewriters. Chairman of the parliament’s committee, Patrick Sensburg, said yesterday that they already have a non-electronic typewriter in place and may expand the use of the outdated machinery. The move comes after an employee of a German spy agency was arrested for leaking information to the U.S. Germany isn’t the only country turning to typewriters to prevent leaks. Last year the Kremlin decided to spend nearly $15,000 to purchase typewriters for this very purpose.