Germany is considering legal changes to force operators of car and house alarm systems to help police and other security agencies to spy on potential terrorists. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, a conservative, said the plan would allow security personnel to bypass hurdles to better surveillance. But the Social Democrats (SPD) have criticised the proposal, just as they consider allying with the conservatives in another 'grand coalition' in parliament. One SPD leader described the plan as 'panicked' and said that today 'is not Orwell’s 1984. We need sound judgment and not exaggeration.'