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In the television series “Battlestar Galactica,” by which I mean the most recent version, the human race is essentially saved from extinction because there are no fancy computer networks or other interconnected devices aboard the Galactica, an old spacecraft designed to resist infiltration by angry robots.

This plot point came to mind because of an article in The Guardian stating that German politicians, in the wake of N.S.A. surveillance revelations, are thinking about ditching email completely for their sensitive communications.



The Cylons are to the characters of “Battlestar Galactica” what the N.S.A. is to the German government.

Asked if they would consider using typewriters, Patrick Sensburg of the Christian Democratic Party said: “As a matter of face, we have – and not electronic models either.”

That, he said, was “no joke.”

The Guardian also pointed out that reverting to older technology as a way to deal with newer technology is something of a trend: Last year Russia’s Federal Guard Service, which protects top Russian officials, ordered 20 Triumph Adler typewriters. (The Russians seemed to think typewriters would make it easier to trace documents and thus prevent unauthorized dissemination.)

Obviously governments and security services have a special interest in protecting private documents, but maybe professionals will eventually follow their lead. In my business, reporters increasingly rely on email to contact sources, and to communicate with each other. Meanwhile we know the Obama administration has been keeping tabs on some journalists.

Cutting the virtual cord is not a complete solution, of course. In addition to tapping Ms. Merkel’s mobile, we have recently learned that the American intelligence services also recruited an old-fashioned double agent in her government.