Germany to give its spy services more cloak-and-dagger powers

The German government signs off on a major overhaul of the country’s intelligence agencies to give them broad new powers to conduct covert operations and take action against foreign threats.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announces a “new era” for Germany’s secret services, which have until now been largely limited to gathering intelligence.

The services will get greater latitude to conduct non-lethal operations such as hacking enemy servers or conducting sabotage under the reforms, which still have to pass parliament before taking effect early next year.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition has argued that more powerful intelligence agencies are needed to counter the threats posed by hostile foreign powers, terrorist groups and cybercriminals.

The reforms will potentially allow the spy agencies to carry out cyberattacks of their own, such as disabling foreign IT systems being used by hostile actors or blocking flows of payments.

In rare situations, the BND spy agency could also receive permission to carry out foreign sabotage missions, though assassinations and other lethal operations would remain strictly forbidden.