The New BND Act

The reason is the increased threat posed, among others, by Russia. However, the Chancellor’s Office also wants to reduce dependence on U.S. intelligence agencies. Until now, the BND was only allowed to gather and analyze information.

In the future, the BND is to be granted significantly greater scope for action. This includes, for example, sabotage operations to weaken enemy forces, as well as monitoring internet traffic flowing from Germany to other countries. Data can be analyzed using artificial intelligence, and facial recognition software is to be deployed. The foreign intelligence service will also be permitted to engage in hacking, hackbacks, and cyberattacks. It will also be permitted to use “appropriate means” to repel drones flying over its properties. In the future, the agency will also be allowed to enter private residences to install surveillance equipment or to secretly tamper with and sabotage devices—such as weapon components—to render them harmless. Informants and spies will also be permitted to commit certain criminal offenses while abroad.

There are concerns and reservations regarding the use of AI—but also regarding the potential use of the U.S. police software Palantir. This raises the risk that data could be transferred to the U.S. The stage is set for many questions for the experts on future public safety!

• EVENT PARTNER OF BERLIN FREEDOM WEEK
• EVENT IN COOPERATION WITH THE GKND

PARTICIPANTS

• Florian Flade, investigative journalist
• Bernd Palenda, Former Head of the Berlin Office for the Protection of the Constitution

MODERATOR

• Dr. Gerhard Conrad, GKND Board Member, former BND officer, author