Berlin Weighs Possible Hit to US Tech Firms

German politicians are debating a new Internet-security law that could exclude US technology companies from Germany’s digital economy, a sign Berlin is beginning to press its commercial advantage after revelations of spying by the National Security Agency.

The draft law, which is still being hammered out, envisions new requirements like revealing source code or other proprietary data for companies that sell information technology to the German government or to private companies that are part of industries Berlin deems critical to the country’s security. Officials at many US companies say they fear the sweeping language of the provisions will be used to prevent them from competing for technology contracts in Germany, where attitudes toward American companies have deteriorated since disclosures that the US National Security Agency spied on German politicians.