Today, the Federal Constitutional Court (Bundersverfassungsgericht), the highest court in germany, decided in an express resolution that the lawsuit of more than 34000 (that's thirty-four thousand!) people against the federal republic's gouvernment that the six month data retention law (all connections to the internet; all email (sender, subject, recipients, date); all mobile communication (caller, location, callee, date, duration) and others) is in parts against our constitution. I'm quite happy, though not satisfied - the data retention itself is still legal, just the access to the data is permitted only when a severe crime can be attested.

A proper trial will not be held before the end of the year, so a final decision is far away. See also (german only):

• Spiegel Online
• Tagesschau
• Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

At least, one good day for freedom in these times.