The German Federal Intelligence Service (BND, the foreign intelligence service) will receive expanded powers, including the performance of operational tasks. This was reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung regarding the new draft law on the BND.
The publication notes that work on this law has been underway for several years. If approved, department employees would be allowed to commit acts of vandalism. For example, weakening the enemy's offensive capabilities, cyber operations aimed at disabling enemy weapons systems. The bill calls this “rapid response.”
According to the publication, the BND will be able to use such measures in a situation if the newly formed National Security Council declares for the first time a “special situation” with a “systemic threat.” The German parliamentary committee in charge of overseeing the activities of intelligence agencies would have to vote on such a decision.
Previously, The Guardian reported that, according to European intelligence agencies, Belgian politicians and senior officials were subjected to a “threat campaign” allegedly by Russian intelligence to prevent Moscow from confiscating frozen assets.
