Overview

• The German Justice Ministers' Conference approved a proposal to legally require automakers to assist police in accessing vehicles during criminal investigations.
• The proposed law would compel manufacturers to provide secondary keys or codes to law enforcement when authorized by a court order.
• Advances in vehicle security systems, such as theft protection and alarm systems, have made it harder for police to conduct surveillance inside vehicles.
• The proposal emphasizes the need for effective tools to combat organized crime, serious offenses, and terrorism, including vehicle monitoring and GPS tracking.
• The Federal Ministry of Justice will review the recommendation and may draft legislation for consideration by the federal cabinet.