The rally in Berlin against federal surveillance gathered thousands of people under the motto “Freedom not fear,” who were calling for stricter control of German intelligence agencies.

The organizers said about 6,500 demonstrators, a broad coalition of pro-transparency, anti-surveillance and civil rights groups including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Reporters Without Borders, Digital Courage, and Amnesty International joined the rally as they marched from the Brandenburg Gate to the Federal Chancellery.