Germany to boost federal service hacking, cut US intel reliance

Germany is drafting a law to massively expand its federal service hacking and internet surveillance, including full-content interception and six-month data retention. Berlin says the overhaul will cut reliance on US intel and bring the agency in line with European peers.

For non-German-speaking readers, the Bundesnachrichtendienst – or BND, its Federal Intelligence Service – sounds like a mouthful. However, it’s time to take note, as the agency has just been granted extra power to hack and surveil.

What is Germany doing?

In essence, Germany is granting more licences to its federal service, so they can have a greater autonomy when dealing with cybercrime and surveilling criminals both home and abroad.

The change is designed to steer Germany away from being too US dependent when it comes to sourced intelligence, and also be up to speed with its contemporaries, such as the UK, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

The draft also extends the BND’s offensive hacking mandate, allowing it to access foreign providers to obtain information if cooperation is refused, that is, if companies do not cooperate or provide the requested data.

It is understood that this will pertain to US companies like Google, X, and Meta, who, at times, can be prone to withholding information. For example, in April 2025, Elon Musk asked the US Supreme Court to shield users from the US government's investigations into specific individuals.

Why is Germany doing this?

As it stands, the BND has limited collection capabilities but is gearing up for greater full-content interception and longer storage, in effect permitting the agency to store collected data for up to six months so it can be indexed and searched for threat intelligence.

Significantly, the “hack foreign providers” clause could sharpen friction with major US platforms and regulators, especially if access is pursued without cooperation.

The agency could hitherto only intervene in the transactions of individuals living abroad, but now it can deal directly with foreign nationals living in Germany should grounds for suspicion arise, such as espionage, terrorism, or cyber threats.

Journalists will also face scrutiny, especially for those reporting for foreign state-linked media outlets.

The legislation would also permit entry into apartments and the deployment of a “federal trojan” on a target device, powers previously restricted to government enforcement.

The lengthy draft runs to 139 pages and would almost double the BND’s current remit, signalling a major overhaul rather than a minor tweak.

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