German intelligence agencies gain powers to hack foreign IT systems and recruit informants as young as 16

Germany’s parliament has approved a bill to significantly expand the powers of the country’s intelligence agencies. The legislation aims to counter espionage, terrorism, and sabotage, according to the newspaper Die Welt. The changes pertain to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) and the Federal Intelligence Service (BND).

The new law empowers the agencies to engage in secretive home invasions, conduct cyberattacks on foreign IT systems, delete or modify data, redirect internet traffic, utilize artificial intelligence to analyze biometric data, and recruit individuals aged sixteen and older as informants in exceptional cases. A special panel, composed of former judges, will assess the legality of proposed measures before the agencies proceed with implementation.

Authorities stated that the bill is necessary due to the escalating hybrid threats from Russia, China, and Iran. Russia intends to make Europe endure significant hardships for supporting Ukraine, according to a Kremlin insider's statement to Bloomberg. Germany accuses Russia of attempting to sabotage a plane in Leipzig, expelling diplomats, and restricting visas.

Authorities believe there must be consequences for Russian sabotage, which has increased in Europe recently. They question why Western officials have not taken more proactive measures to prevent it. The story, written by a Meduza journalist, has been translated from Russian using an AI model that adheres to strict editorial standards.

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