Germany's cabinet, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has approved a draft law to expand the powers of its foreign and domestic intelligence agencies. These measures, which must still be approved by parliament, are designed to lift many of the restraints imposed during the postwar period to allow agencies to more actively respond to a growing set of security threats.
The new authorities will grant intelligence services the ability to hack communications, collect data, and carry out active operations to disrupt the activities of foreign adversaries. These reforms largely comply with a wishlist from the intelligence services, which have long complained that Germany lags behind its allies and enemies.
The government is moving to counter increasing threats from cyber and hybrid attacks, as well as terrorism and extremism. Officials specifically accuse Moscow of waging a hybrid campaign of sabotage, espionage, and disinformation against Germany, which is among Ukraine's biggest military supporters. The push for reform follows two attacks in a single month that exposed serious security gaps.
While the government views these changes as necessary for national security, critics warn that red lines are being crossed with the expansion of these powers.