Germany’s government aims to give its spy agencies more powers to fight rising hybrid threats. This move is sensitive due to Germany’s strict post-war limitations on intelligence operations, intended to prevent abuses seen during the Nazi regime. Thorsten Frei, from the chancellor’s office, highlighted that many recent attacks were prevented thanks to intelligence shared by allied countries with broader powers.
Frei is advocating for a “paradigm shift” to allow the foreign intelligence agency, the BND, to use more intrusive surveillance techniques, like accessing private mobile phones and storing data for up to a year. He emphasized the need to match the intelligence capabilities of European partners, noting that information is crucial for intelligence services worldwide.
Amid ongoing concerns about Germany’s dark intelligence past, Frei stated that new threats require a reevaluation of historical constraints on intelligence services. He believes the BND should also disrupt drone attacks and disable cryptocurrency wallets linked to crime. He plans to push for legislation this year, although it may face resistance from opposition parties, with no draft bill submitted to the Bundestag yet. Critics, like Left Party lawmaker Clara Buenger, warn that expanding powers while reducing oversight could threaten democracy. Additionally, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt seeks similar upgrades for the domestic intelligence agency, the BfV. Both agencies have seen budget increases of over 25% this year.
With information from Reuters
