Germany approves expanded intelligence powers to counter Russian threats

Aug 12, 2026

On August 12, 2026, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's cabinet approved a historic draft law granting Germany's intelligence services, the BND and BfV, active operational powers to conduct offensive cyber operations and physical sabotage. Triggered by rising Russian hybrid threats and a recent explosive-laden drone incident at Leipzig airport, the reform seeks to reduce Germany's postwar reliance on allied intelligence sharing. However, civil liberties advocates and opposition politicians warn the expanded surveillance powers threaten data privacy and the rule of law.

German intelligence reform legislation

▪The German cabinet approved a draft law on August 12, 2026, to expand the operational and data-collection powers of its foreign and domestic intelligence services.
▪The German government increased the annual budget of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) by approximately 26 percent to €1.51 billion in 2026.
▪The proposed German intelligence reform legislation must be passed by both chambers of parliament before taking effect, with the government targeting January 1, 2027.

Russian hybrid warfare threats

▪German officials cited a rising threat of espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks, and hybrid warfare from foreign adversaries, particularly Russia, as the primary catalyst for the intelligence reforms.
▪An explosive-laden drone was discovered in August 2026 near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle airport, which German officials cited as an example of acute hybrid threats.
▪A deadly car ramming at a Berlin Pride parade in late July 2026, carried out by a known Islamist, highlighted critical security gaps preceding the intelligence reform approval.

BND offensive cyber capabilities

▪The proposed legislation permits German intelligence personnel to carry weapons for self-defence abroad more frequently, though the active use of force remains prohibited.
▪The draft law grants the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) active cyber capabilities, including "hack-back" operations to manipulate, copy, or delete data on adversary IT systems.
▪Under the proposed legislation, German intelligence services can conduct physical sabotage, such as secretly disabling explosives, swapping weapon components, or blocking digital payments to foreign agents.

Postwar intelligence service constraints

▪Germany's postwar intelligence services were historically restricted to defensive information-gathering to prevent a recurrence of the abuses committed by the Nazi regime.
▪Postwar legal constraints left Germany's intelligence services with fewer operational powers and stricter data-protection rules than allied agencies like the CIA, Mossad, or DGSE.

Reduced allied intelligence dependence

▪German officials seek to reduce dependence on United States intelligence sharing, amid concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump could halt or leverage critical information exchanges.
▪Chancellery Chief Nina Warken stated that Germany has relied too heavily on the intelligence services of foreign allies, describing the current sharing relationship as a one-way street.

Civil liberties concerns

▪Federal Commissioner for Data Protection Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider criticized the draft law for stripping her office of oversight powers and expanding public CCTV surveillance.
▪Opposition Green party spokesperson Konstantin von Notz warned that the expanded domestic powers granted to the BfV challenge the historical separation between intelligence services and police.