Overview
- The federal cabinet, which approved the reform on Thursday, granted the BND and the Verfassungsschutz expanded operational powers including limited firearms use, sabotage, offensive cyber measures and disinformation operations.
- Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt defended the changes as necessary to confront modern state‑directed terrorism and hybrid threats after past intelligence shortfalls.
- Opposition politicians and privacy groups warned the package breaks the long German separation between police and secret services and risks secretive action without sufficient judicial oversight.
- Activists and civil‑society groups said the Verfassungsschutz powers to enter homes, hack devices and deploy state trojans could be used against left‑wing and climate movements, deepening public concern about civil liberties.
- The bill now moves to parliament where limits on kinetic action, judicial safeguards and a strengthened independent oversight body remain under negotiation and face likely constitutional review, with coverage ranging from satirical approval to sharp left‑wing criticism.