The fear of terrorism and crime drives us to increasingly new and radical measures. However, these have not led to greater security. Almost unnoticed by the public, the federal government is undermining our civil rights, warns renowned data security expert Peter Schaar. While we criticize the rapid transformation of Turkey into an autocratic regime or the extensive powers of Homeland Security in the USA, we forget that data protection standards are also at risk in Germany. We have long become accustomed to biometric passport photos, data retention, and the expansion of video surveillance—without reassessing the benefits and risks of such measures. Schaar's examples demonstrate that the state's monopoly on violence must be democratically controlled. It is a plea against the erosion caused by fear of terrorism and the threat of terrorism.