Germany: More power for the intelligence agencies
German intelligence agencies have been calling for more powers in the fight against cyberattacks, terrorism and extremism. Now the government has given the go. Critics warn that red lines are being crossed.
Germany's federal government has approved a draft bill to significantly expand the powers of the intelligence agencies, specifically the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) and the Federal Intelligence Service (BND). The reform, which remains reliant on parliamentary approval, is seen as the largest in German history since the end of World War II in 1945.
The new powers would enable the agencies to counteract cyberattacks, manipulate or delete data, and carry out sabotage or cyber operations abroad. The interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt, argues that these changes are necessary to combat modern state terrorism and extremist violence. However, the Society for Civil Rights (GFF) and other critics argue that the reform violates constitutional rights and undermines constitutional separation between intelligence services, the police, and the military.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
