German parliament expands intelligence powers, allowing cyberattacks on foreign systems and recruitment of 16-year-old informants
Germany's parliament has passed a law that significantly broadens the powers of the country's intelligence services to fight espionage, terrorism and sabotage. Authorities say it is needed because of growing hybrid threats from Russia, China and Iran.
Germany's parliament has adopted a law that substantially widens the powers of the country's intelligence agencies, the newspaper Die Welt reported. The legislation is intended to strengthen the fight against espionage, terrorism and sabotage. It covers the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany's domestic security service, and the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), the country's foreign intelligence agency.
New powers for the agencies
Under the law, the agencies will be allowed to:
- secretly enter homes;
- carry out cyberattacks on foreign IT systems;
- delete or alter data and redirect internet traffic;
- use artificial intelligence to analyze biometric data;
- in exceptional cases, recruit teenagers aged 16 and older as informants.
Oversight
Before the agencies carry out planned measures, a special body that includes former judges will review whether they are legal.
Justification
German authorities say the law is necessary because of growing hybrid threats from Russia, China and Iran. Hybrid threats are a combination of hostile actions, such as sabotage, cyberattacks and other indirect measures, directed against a state.
The source also recalls that Berlin previously blamed Russia for an attempt to sabotage a plane in Leipzig, expelled diplomats and restricted visas.
