Europeupdated 17m ago2 min read
Archive photo · 4 November 2007Germany’s Bundestag Approves Sweeping Intelligence Powers for BND and BfV
3 Western Mainstream2 Local Western2 Other1 West AsianPhoto: Jürgen Matern, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cropped for layout
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Bundestag approved sweeping intelligence reform expanding BND and BfV powers to hack and disrupt abroad. Measures authorize covert operations, cyberattacks, and surveillance to counter espionage, terrorism, and sabotage.
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Bundestag Approves Spy Overhaul
Germany’s Bundestag approved sweeping new powers for its intelligence agencies, expanding the role of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) beyond gathering and analysing information to actively disrupt certain threats. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the legislation as a “reform of the century”, and the vote passed on Friday by 308 votes to 190 with 71 abstentions. The reform would allow the BfV to take technical measures against serious threats, including deleting stolen information from an attacker’s server, while the BND would be able to intervene against threats abroad by disrupting servers used by state-backed hackers.
“The Bundestag passed the legislation on Friday by 308 votes to 190, with 71 abstentions.”
The law also followed Germany’s accusation that a drone discovered at Leipzig-Halle airport in August was consistent with Russian technology, and Russia responded by ordering the closure of a German consulate in St Petersburg and the Goethe-Institut. The main provisions are scheduled to take effect on December 31, pending completion of the legislative process, according to the Al Jazeera account.
Hybrid Threats and Opposition
Dobrindt framed the change as a response to hybrid threats, saying, “We are the target of hybrid threats,” and he added that “Germany is a theatre of operations for terrorism, extremism and foreign powers.” Clara Bünger, the Left Party’s security spokeswoman, told public broadcaster ARD that the new law was “a monster… summoning ghosts that we will probably never be able to get rid of”. Bünger argued that the separation between police and the secret service was “being eroded”, and she warned that the reforms would grant the secret service “executive powers” and “police powers.”
Sonja Eichwede of the centre-left SPD said the reforms would make a significant contribution to ensuring the country’s democracy was “robust and resilient.” The BBC also reported that the Bundestag voted in favour of the new law on intelligence services with 309 MPs voting in favour, 190 voting against and 71 abstaining.
Powers, Safeguards, and Timing
The reform would give the BND covert operational powers abroad, including sabotage, and it would allow the BND to conduct covert operations abroad such as “acts of sabotage,” according to Bénin Web TV. Bénin Web TV said the BND’s new possibilities include neutralizing servers used by state-supported hacking groups, disrupting disinformation networks, or disrupting weapon supply chains, while the BfV would be able to act against goods or computer systems when a specific threat is identified. heise online described the bill as authorizing covert home entries and hack-backs, and it said the BND would be authorized to secretly enter homes in Germany to prepare or carry out intelligence operations.
“The text notably provides for authorizing the foreign intelligence service, the BND, to carry out clandestine operations abroad, including acts of sabotage.”
heise online also reported that Reporters Without Borders criticized the fact that, through the end of 2027, the BfV can order far-reaching measures against journalists without effective prior review. The Record from Recorded Future News said the Bundestag approved the bill by 308 votes to 190 with 71 abstentions, and it quoted Chancellery chief Nina Warken saying the powers could allow agencies to use cyber operations to sabotage drone factories or chemical weapons laboratories.
