Time travel

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the GFF, founding member Ulf Buermeyer took a trip back in time —and met his younger self.

Suit-Ulf: Artificial intelligence offers some great opportunities. I thought I'd drop by. I'm you from 2025.

Hoodie-Ulf_2015: Wow... that's weird. You're... me? In ten years?

Suit-Ulf: Yes, exactly. Don't worry, you're still you – just a little more experienced.

Hoodie-Ulf_2015: I have lots of questions! You seem pretty relaxed. I, on the other hand, am seriously concerned about our privacy. The Bundestag has done virtually nothing since Edward Snowden's revelations two years ago. Instead, new far-reaching surveillance laws are being passed. We need people who take a critical look at what legislators at the federal and state levels are doing and take action against it!

Suit-Ulf (clears his throat): Spoiler alert: You're going to co-found an organization that will be this kind of watchdog.

Hoodie-Ulf_2015: Really? Yes, I'm already thinking about founding an association with a few people! Outside the environmental sector in Germany, there is currently no civil society initiative that systematically uses strategic litigation, especially not for fundamental and human rights. And people need to stand up for that! We would like to be a kind of legal protection insurance for the Basic Law. Will it work?

Suit-Ulf: On the whole, definitely. I'll be honest with you, it hasn't all gone smoothly. But I'm proud of the many strategic lawsuits we've fought and won. By the way, “we” are now a full-time team of almost 50 people with a lot of expertise in various areas, from freedom of assembly and freedom of the press to data protection and police law to social law and anti-discrimination, and this spring, after ten years on the board, I handed over responsibility to others.

Hoodie-Ulf_2015: You've been working too hard, haven't you?

Suit-Ulf (laughs): Definitely! But it was worth it: the association has an absolutely extraordinary success rate before the Federal Constitutional Court. That speaks to the exceptional legal quality of the work. But I'm not going to tell you any more than that. Except maybe the name of the organization. Do you want to know it?

Hoodie-Ulf_2015: Is that your way of influencing the past?

Suit-Ulf (laughs): Maybe.

Hoodie-Ulf_2015: Come on, tell me.

Suit-Ulf: “Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte” – GFF (Society for Civil Rights).

Hoodie-Ulf_2015: It's impressive that you've won so many cases. And what hasn't gone so smoothly?

Suit-Ulf: It has to be said that legislators are repeatedly reluctant to take decisions from Karlsruhe seriously and implement them. Unfortunately, this is an unresolved problem and we have had to take legal action on the same issue several times. What's more, we now live in a social climate in which we cannot always assume that even democratic parties are clearly committed to the rule of law.

Hoodie-Ulf_2015: Excuse me?

Suit-Ulf: Yes, that's extremely worrying. I remember that back then, it was unimaginable for you that the social climate would harden so much. But unfortunately, there is a widespread unwillingness to respect fundamental rights, even if it doesn't fit in with one's political agenda. For example, in the case of refugees. Many people in Germany seem to me to be at their limit and only fighting for themselves. This is reflected in a drastic decline in tolerance.

Hoodie-Ulf_2015: How am I supposed to be motivated with such prospects?

Suit-Ulf: You will be part of building a successful and powerful organization that stands up against this development. I'll give you a few hints without revealing too much. Palantir and the BND need to brace themselves, and we will push back against the undignified treatment of refugees. Together with the Society for Civil Rights, you will influence legislation at the federal and state levels – but keep your feet on the ground (winks).

Hoodie-Ulf_2015: Which of my dreams will come true by 2025?

Suit-Ulf: The dream of creating an organization that stands on its own two feet has come true. It has grown up a bit. And it is supported by many different people. We have several thousand supporting members, but in order to be truly independent and to be able to continue our legal, communications and political work over the long term, we need even more.

✨ Let us fight together for our democracy, for our society based on the rule of law, and for strong fundamental and human rights! Become part of #TeamCivilRights!