Germany moves to expand powers of foreign intelligence service

Germany is planning to expand the powers of its foreign intelligence agency, the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), according to a draft law cited by Süddeutsche Zeitung.

The bill, prepared by the federal chancellery after several years of work, would allow the BND to carry out active operations under certain conditions. Until now, the agency has been limited largely to collecting and analysing intelligence.

Under the proposal, the BND could be authorised to conduct so-called “operational response measures,” including cyber operations aimed at weakening an adversary’s attack capabilities or disabling weapons systems.

Such measures would only be permitted after the National Security Council declares a “systemic threat” or a “special situation,” and would require approval by a two-thirds majority in Germany’s parliamentary intelligence oversight committee.