Snooping EPO Management, Sniffing Up Every Staff Action
They say they "go digital" (the idea is, they can spy on mouse movements, key presses, maybe even microphones and cameras at the terminals with Microsoft "apps")
Many people forgot it, but we did not. Over a decade ago the EPO illegally spied (keyloggers and cameras) not just on ordinary EPO staff but also judges. Since then the practice has been 'normalised', even if this contravenes German law.
The EPO, to put it bluntly, made it widely accepted that it is above the law and whatever way - or whetever - it breaks the law, nothing will happen, those who broke the law will carry on as if nothing happened (the president will even romance with their sisters).
Yesterday the EPO's staff had a General Assembly regarding industrial actions, e.g. "information on participation in and impact of the industrial actions" and "advice for handling productivity measures enforced by management."
There is a growing push for secrecy and surveillance at the EPO (allowing Microsoft to see everything and spy together with cocaine-addicted managers).
Is this a problem for whistleblowers? Of course.
To EPO management, maintaining the culture of corruption is far more important than adhering to patent laws or any laws for that matter. █