They're not the same. There is a big difference between heads of state and and elected representatives, and an even bigger difference between heads of state a

They're not the same. There is a big difference between heads of state and and elected representatives, and an even bigger difference between heads of state and the rando activists/etc that elected representatives might invite to share their point of view. Heads of state, like the POTUS, are meant to officially embody the state itself. So if Trump while President says a thing, it is reasonably conventional to describe that as "America said..." But that isn't what happened here. In this case you don't have a head of state saying anything about the subject. The article is about various people (including "IT experts, civil libertarians, law enforcement officials and even child protectors" who aren't even elected representatives at all) giving their opinions to German Parliament. This is not a "Germany says.." situation.