Germany moves to expand spy agency powers amid rising foreign threats

Germany’s cabinet has endorsed a draft law that would widen the operational scope of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the domestic agency BfV, allowing them to seize laptops, phones and other equipment and to take active counter-measures. Nina Warken, chief of staff to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, warned that the country is a frequent target of hybrid attacks and that current reliance on foreign intelligence is one-sided.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the reforms will make Germany’s spy services competitive with those of EU allies and other friendly nations. Under the plan, the BND could replace components in deliveries, infiltrate drone or chemical-weapon facilities, or shut down servers used by hostile hackers. The initiative comes after a drone carrying explosives was found at Leipzig/Halle airport, an event still under investigation. While no specific state was named, Russian activity remains a central concern for German authorities.