[ Thanks to Godi for
this link and for assisting in the translation of this story.
]
The German daily newspaper Die Welt has reported today that
Microsoft hired the public relations company Hunzinger to lobby
high-ranked German decision makers against the adoption of Linux in
the Bundestag.
Hunzinger is currently the focus of intense public scrutiny in
Germany due to alledged dubious business practices. In particular,
sources have indicated that Hunzinger paid a large sum of money to
German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping in an unrelated matter.
Scharping was forced to resign this week.
In the aftermath of the scandal more and more details on
Hunzingers activities are coming to light, which prompted today’s
story from Die Welt.
According to the piece, Hunzinger was hired by Microsoft in 2001
to convince German decision makers not to adopt Linux in the
Bundestag. The PR firm invited members of the parliament for a
workshop at the building of DG Bank in Berlin. According to Die
Welt, gourmet food was served to the participants and Microsoft
Germany’s CEO Kurt Sibold gave a talk in which he predicted the
decline of the Linux phenomenon.
In a letter to the members of the Bundestag, Hunzinger suggested
that after September 11 Linux might not be secure enough for a
government agency. Their rationale was that due to the open source
character of Linux, the OS could more easily be exploited by cyber
terrorist.
Hunzinger apparently offered briefings by Microsoft CEO Kurt
Sibold to all interested members of parliament.