Former Interior Minister Gerhart Baum, known for his work on data protection and civil liberties issues, talks to Deutsche Welle about the privacy risks inherent in the digital world. Baum says the Internet "offers new possibilities for personal development and communication," but warns that online data remains forever and people should "exercise restraint." He also voices concern over those instances where web users "leave information whether we like it or not." Pointing to the difficulty of taking action in the private sector, where the major players are global corporations, Baum says, "The state must set the framework for data processing in the private sector...But we need global agreements on the protection of privacy."
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