🔶 Expansion of the operational powers of Germany’s cross-border and domestic intelligence services

The German parliament approved major revisions to the laws governing the country’s intelligence services on Friday, November 13 (November 22 in the Persian calendar). The reforms expand the powers of Germany’s intelligence service (an organization responsible for foreign security) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (an organization responsible for domestic security) in the areas of countering espionage, terrorism, sabotage, and cyberattacks.

Under the new law, besides gathering intelligence, these bodies will be allowed, under specific conditions, to intervene operationally against threats; including the ability to intervene in attackers’ computer systems and disrupt their activities.

Opponents of the law have warned about the further expansion of security agencies’ powers and the weakening of oversight over them.

After being reviewed and amended by the Bundestag’s Interior Affairs Committee, the measure was adopted with 309 votes in favor, 190 against, and 71 abstentions.

Under the new law, the German intelligence service and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution will have expanded powers to monitor telecommunications communications and to match biometric data.

The most significant change is the expansion of their operational powers; meaning that whereas previously they were mainly limited to collecting and analyzing information, they can now, under clearly defined legal conditions, also take action to counter certain threats.

Hashtags: