German Justice Ministers Propose Law Requiring Automakers to Assist Police Surveillance

The initiative aims to mandate automakers to provide access to vehicle systems for law enforcement in cases of serious criminal investigations.

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.