MOSCOW, August 8 (RIA Novosti) – Recent revelations about the scale of US electronic spying have caused a rapid increase in the use of encryption apps for smartphones and computers in Germany, the Associated Press reported.
"Germans have always been particularly attuned to security and privacy concerns," AP quoted Jon Callas, co-founder of the Silent Circle encryption app producer, as saying, adding that his firm has witnessed a “huge increase” in subscriptions to its telephone and text services.
According to Callas, among those resorting to the special security applications are the diplomats, journalists and trade professionals, AP reported.
Tensions between Germany and US were raised in June 2013 when US National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden revealed that the United States was eavesdropping on its European allies.
Members of German government announced in November 2013 that they would be using encrypted phones due to increasing cyber security concerns.
The spying scandal worsened in July 2014, when the discovery of two suspected US spies in Germany prompted Chancellor Angela Merkel to demand the departure of the CIA station chief in Berlin.
