Deutsche Telekom eavesdropping controversy

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The Deutsche Telekom eavesdropping controversy became public in May 2008 after an article in Der Spiegel. Bonn prosecutors opened investigations against eight former Telekom officials, including members of the advisory board, the executive board, and former employees, for allegedly spying on journalists and on members of Telekom’s supervisory boards. The spying supposedly began under then supervisory board chair Klaus Zumwinkel and then CEO Kai-Uwe Ricke to find out who leaked information about planned layoffs and acquisitions to the media in 2005–2006.

In Germany, half of the advisory board members of large companies are employee representatives, who were also suspected of leaking information. Telekom CEO René Obermann cooperated with the prosecutors, handed over relevant materials, and allowed searches of Telekom offices. He also enlisted the help of former federal judge Gerhard Schäfer to handle the situation. A member of the Bundestag said the scandal could be as damaging as the Spiegel affair of 1962. On 24 October 2008, Telekom received the Big Brother Award 2008 in the Workplace and Communications category for this scandal.