Overview
- Media reports detail a draft that would let the BND store and analyze large portions of international internet traffic for up to six months, including the contents of communications.
- Collection would extend to data flowing from Germany to foreign destinations, with reporting estimating roughly 30% of overall traffic affected.
- A new two-step model is proposed in which bulk data is retained first and specific content can later be inspected in a process labeled “Einsichtnahme.”
- Expanded authorities would permit covert intrusions into systems of foreign providers and major platforms such as Google, Meta and X, potentially even when parts of their infrastructure are located in Germany.
- A carve-out would allow surveillance of employees of state-controlled foreign media viewed as non‑independent journalists, and a government spokesperson said the draft is still being coordinated with no date set for cabinet submission.