German secret service upgrade gives ‘fighting chance’ against Iranian and Russian cyber attacks

Germany's intelligence services are set to receive more powers, granting them a "fighting chance" against cyber attacks from adversaries such as Iran and Russia, according to a leading analyst. The draft bill, yet to be approved by Parliament, permits the storage of up to 30 percent of intercepted internet traffic, allowing for rare instances of foreign sabotage missions abroad. Additionally, the legislation approves the use of AI to analyze large volumes of information.

Germany's intelligence services have traditionally operated under stricter rules compared to neighboring countries, primarily collecting, analyzing, and transferring information linked to cyber threats to political decision-makers. They do not actively work to prevent or alter the threats. However, this draft reform aims to bring Germany's intelligence services up to speed with those of other EU nations, equipping them to counter online threats ranging from terrorism to espionage and sabotage.

Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremism Project, points out that previous reforms focused on data protection have constrained agencies' access to mass information. Nevertheless, these reforms, which predate recent high-profile cyber attacks in Germany, could contribute to deterring hybrid warfare orchestrated by hostile states like Russia, China, and Iran.

With these enhanced capabilities, German intelligence services may have identified suspects involved in recent attacks, such as the drone carrying explosives near a Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport and another drone collision with a cargo plane. Improved online tools could have led to the identification of the suspects operating on German soil, who are believed to be linked to both incidents.