"Russia is waging a shadow war": Germany changes the rules of the game - granting unprecedented powers to spies
The German parliament approved a reform granting intelligence services unprecedented powers, including carrying out sabotage operations abroad, hacking computers, and disabling infrastructure of hostile entities, amid increasing espionage threats and cyber attacks from Russia, China, and Iran.
The German parliament approved a historic reform granting intelligence services unprecedented powers, including the ability to carry out sabotage operations abroad, hack computers, and disable infrastructure of hostile entities. The reform was approved in the Bundestag with a vote of 309 in favor, 190 against, and 71 abstentions. It allows the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) to move from information gathering to offensive operations against threats outside Germany, and gives the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) new powers, including covert home searches and the use of artificial intelligence. The background is growing concern over hostile Russian activity in Europe, including cyber attacks, espionage, and sabotage. BND chief Bruno Kahl warned in October that "Russia is waging a shadow war against us." Opponents of the reform warn of harm to privacy and the historical memory of the Nazi secret police and the Stasi.