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🇩🇪 Germany /Conflict & Security

German Intelligence Chief Demands More Powers for Agency

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Germany's domestic intelligence chief, Sinan Selen, is calling for expanded powers for his agency, the BfV.
  • Selen argues that growing threats to democracy necessitate a transformation of the intelligence service into a more proactive entity.
  • Proposed reforms include enhanced surveillance capabilities and the use of artificial intelligence for data analysis.

Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), requires expanded powers to effectively counter growing threats to democracy, according to its president, Sinan Selen. In an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, Selen stated that the agency must evolve from merely collecting information to becoming a true intelligence service capable of managing and preventing threats.

We must work more operationally in the future. For that, we need new and expanded capabilities.

· Sinan SelenPresident of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) on the need for enhanced agency powers.

Selen emphasized the need for the BfV to become more "operational," requiring new and enhanced capabilities. He described the agency's mission as not just explaining or observing, but actively mastering or preventing threats. Examples of such threats include extremist attacks and illegal arms shipments. The ultimate goal, he explained, is to identify dangers, thwart them, and use the insights gained to prevent new threats before they emerge.

These calls for reform align with broader discussions within the German government. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt had previously announced plans to reform the intelligence services, aiming to transform them into "real secret services." Reports suggest that future legislation could permit the BfV to conduct covert computer and mobile phone surveillance of suspects and utilize artificial intelligence to rapidly identify relevant information within vast datasets. The use of facial recognition software is also reportedly under consideration.

Our task is not to explain or observe, but to master or prevent threats.

· Sinan SelenBfV President Sinan Selen defining the agency's evolving mission.

The proposed expansion of powers is not limited to the BfV. The Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is also expected to receive additional competencies as part of the reform. Selen's push for greater authority underscores a perceived shift in the security landscape, where the agency believes a more assertive and technologically advanced approach is necessary to safeguard democratic institutions.

Security and sovereignty result from deterrence and the ability to defend oneself.

· Sinan SelenBfV President Sinan Selen on the principles of national security.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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