Germany's Bundestag passes intelligence law Dobrindt calls 'reform of the century'
Germany's parliament has approved new legislation expanding the powers of intelligence agencies to counter sabotage and disinformation campaigns
RastinewsGermany has expanded the powers of its intelligence agencies, citing threats originating from Russia, Iran and China.
The changes strengthen the operational capacity of both the domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), and the foreign intelligence service, the BND. They arrive at a moment when the BND is already under pressure following the arrest of its former president, August Hanning, on espionage charges.
The government adopted the bill in August, after BfV President Sinan Selen called for expanded powers in May, saying "we are under threat from Russia."
The Bundestag passed the bill drafted by Friedrich Merz's government by a vote of 309 to 190, with 71 lawmakers abstaining.
So what will German intelligence agencies be able to do differently now?
Changes to domestic intelligence
The BfV, known publicly above all for its surveillance of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), will no longer be limited to gathering information and monitoring individuals.
Under certain conditions, it will be able to enter private homes covertly and intervene to neutralize explosives or weapons it discovers.
The agency's digital powers are also expanding. The BfV will be able to draw on AI-assisted data analysis and request information from payment service providers or digital platforms.
The agency has also been granted permission, in exceptional cases, to recruit 16- and 17-year-olds as informants. These young recruits are intended for use in monitoring far-right organizations or Islamist groups.
Operations beyond Germany's borders
The BND, responsible for foreign intelligence, is gaining operational intervention powers as well. It will now be able to shut down servers belonging to hacker groups abroad.
Until now, the agency's role was limited to gathering intelligence and passing it to the government.
Going forward, the BND will be able to take steps outside Germany's borders such as disrupting disinformation networks or destroying weapons and sabotage materials. Rules making it easier for German agents to carry weapons abroad have also been eased.
Powers come with limits
The governing coalition says the reform is meant to strengthen Germany's defenses against foreign intelligence services operating out of Russia, China and Iran in particular. The changes are also intended to reduce Germany's dependence on allied intelligence services, chief among them the United States.
But the new powers are not unlimited. Neither agency, for instance, has been given police-style powers of coercion such as detention or search.
The professional confidentiality of doctors, psychotherapists, lawyers and journalists remains under special protection. Neither agency will gain access to the police's biometric facial recognition system or camera network.
The BND is not permitted to carry out operations abroad that could deliberately cause injury or death. By contrast, the intelligence services of countries such as Turkey, the United States and Israel do carry out lethal operations on foreign soil.
The intelligence agencies remain obligated to brief the relevant Bundestag committee on their activities. That committee does not include members from the AfD or the Left Party, by agreement among the other parties.
Source: DW