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German spies granted sweeping new powers

German spies granted sweeping new powers

Also reported by BBC World

Summary

Germany’s parliament approved legislation expanding the powers of its foreign and domestic intelligence agencies to disrupt certain serious threats. The new measures allow technical interventions, including removing stolen information from attackers’ servers and disrupting servers used by state-backed hackers.

Key Facts

  • The Bundestag passed the legislation by 308 votes to 190, with 71 abstentions.
  • The governing Christian Democrats and Social Democrats supported the reform; the AfD and Die Linke opposed it.
  • The reform expands powers for the foreign intelligence agency, the BND, and the domestic intelligence service, the BfV.
  • The BfV may take technical measures against serious threats, including deleting stolen information from an attacker’s server.
  • The BND may intervene against threats abroad, including disrupting servers used by state-backed hackers.
  • Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the reform would strengthen Germany’s response to terrorism and hostile foreign operations.
  • Die Linke raised concerns about privacy and the separation of intelligence work from police work.
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