German parliament approves bill expanding cyber defense powers

Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, on Thursday approved a bill granting security authorities expanded powers to defend against cyberattacks.

The legislation passed with the support of the governing Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) alliance and its junior coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

Opposition parties, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD), The Left and the Greens, voted against the measure, with some lawmakers strongly criticizing the proposal.

The bill would give the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the Federal Police and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) additional tools to counter cyberattacks.

The proposed powers include prohibiting the operation of information technology systems deemed threatening, redirecting data traffic, and accessing, deleting or modifying data.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told lawmakers that Germany was “ramping up capabilities in cyberspace.”

“With today’s decision, active cyber defense becomes a core component of our security architecture. We are repositioning our country in terms of security policy to address hybrid threats, foreign powers, and cyberattacks,” Dobrindt said.

Green Party lawmaker Konstantin von Notz, however, criticized the legislation, saying it “fails to provide the necessary clarity, but instead creates counterproductive, redundant structures.”

The bill still requires approval from Germany's upper house, the Bundesrat, which has already called for revisions, primarily over concerns about the burdens the legislation would place on businesses.