German spy agency reportedly to gain attack powers

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The BND is expected to gain authorization to carry out sabotage and enter suspects’ residences to install surveillance software

According to a Friday report by Sueddeutsche Zeitung, the Chancellery in Berlin has put forward a proposal to empower Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, which primarily focuses on surveillance, to conduct sabotage and other aggressive operations internationally.

Established in 1956 in post-war West Germany, the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) initially had restricted capabilities, similar to the Bundeswehr. Up to this point, the BND’s mandate has been limited to collecting and analyzing data.

The report indicates that a new draft bill, reviewed by German media outlets, would enable the intelligence agency to operate much more assertively, authorizing it to execute cyberattacks, acts of sabotage, and other offensive actions.

Should it be passed, this legislation would also broaden the BND’s domestic surveillance capabilities, permitting agents to covertly access suspects’ residences to install spyware on their computers and other electronic devices. Furthermore, it would increase the application of facial recognition technology and the gathering of data concerning vehicle positions and travel paths.

The proposed regulations would reportedly permit intelligence officers to exercise these new authorities only if Germany’s recently formed National Security Council identifies a “systematic threat”. Subsequently, a parliamentary committee responsible for overseeing intelligence services would need to sanction the measure with a two-thirds majority vote.

A spokesperson was quoted by the newspaper stating that government officials are “collaborating intensely in preliminary discussions” to push the proposal forward.

Earlier this year, the intelligence agency received expanded powers to monitor the opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, after Berlin officially labeled it “extremist” subsequent to it securing over 20% of the votes in the federal election.