On August 12, 2026, the German government approved a historic bill lifting decades of restrictions on its intelligence agencies. Dubbed a 'security revolution,' the ambitious plan allows the use of artificial intelligence, hack-back cyber operations, and increased data collection to counter growing threats from Russia and China, with full implementation expected by January 2027.

Germany modernizes its intelligence arsenal

The coalition government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz has taken a historic step towards modernizing its security apparatus. On August 12, 2026, the German cabinet approved a bill of over 700 pages that removes multiple restrictions imposed on intelligence agencies after World War II.

The initiative, described by the newspaper Bild as a 'security revolution' and 'historic' by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, aims to adapt state capabilities to modern threats, especially from state actors like Russia and China. The government expects the law to come into force on January 1, 2027.

Context: The catalyst for the reform

The urgency of this reform has been accelerated by recent incidents that exposed vulnerabilities in the German security system. In late July 2026, a vehicle attack by an Islamist born in Germany and already known to authorities occurred at the Berlin Pride parade. Shortly after, in August 2026, an explosive drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig airport, a key node for defense transport.

New powers for the BND and the BfV

The law primarily benefits two key entities of the German intelligence apparatus:

  • BND (Bundesnachrichtendienst): The foreign intelligence service, which turns 70 in 2026 and is led by the former ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Jäger. It will acquire new operational powers.
  • BfV (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz): The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, responsible for domestic intelligence.

Among the new tools and powers approved are:

Power Description
Hack-back (Retaliatory cyberattacks) Permission to manipulate or delete data in response to cyberattacks.
Payment blocking Ability to stop digital payments to 'disposable' agents (employed by foreign governments for specific attacks).
Artificial Intelligence Use of AI to collect, store, and analyze information for longer periods.
Carrying weapons Agents may carry weapons for self-defense more frequently and without explicit permission, although the use of force abroad remains prohibited.

The debate between security and rights

While the reform is seen by many as necessary due to the threat level following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it is not without criticism. The Federal Data Protection Commissioner, Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider, warned that her office will lose supervisory powers over the BND and criticized the increased access to CCTV footage.

For his part, Konstantin von Notz, spokesman for the opposition Green party, agreed on the need to grant more powers to the BND, but warned that the bill 'crosses the line', especially regarding the BfV. Von Notz noted that these measures clash with the principle of separation between intelligence services and the police, a boundary established after the darkest chapters of German history.