German Interior Ministers Push for Expanded Surveillance Powers

North Rhine-Westphalia's Herbert Reul urges swift action to strengthen data retention and biometric tools for combating crime and terrorism.

Herbert Reul, North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister, advocates for immediate expansion of security agencies' powers to address modern crime challenges.
German federal and state interior ministers have agreed on measures including mandatory retention of IP addresses and communication data for a minimum period.
Proposed changes include enabling biometric comparisons with publicly available online media and clarifying legal frameworks for real-time facial recognition software.
Reul emphasizes that current limitations frustrate investigators and hinder effective prevention and investigation of terrorist activities and organized crime.
The ministers highlight the urgency of implementing these measures, citing ongoing high levels of terror threats and the need to modernize law enforcement tools.