For the First Time in History, Germany Grants Intelligence Agencies Offensive Powers

The German government is preparing to undertake one of the biggest changes in its national intelligence and security architecture. Berlin plans to expand the authority of its intelligence agencies to include offensive cyber operations, infiltration of electronic devices, and active measures against infrastructure deemed to be used by foreign adversaries.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the reform would affect two main institutions: Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV).

Speaking to Bild, Dobrindt described the change as a ‘historic reform’ that would alter how German intelligence agencies confront modern security threats. According to him, the reform would move German intelligence services from institutions that have largely collected and analysed information into institutions with broader operational capabilities.

‘This is a revolution in our security architecture because for the first time we are granting operational authority to the intelligence agencies,’ Dobrindt said.

The plan emerged as the German government has increasingly highlighted what it calls hybrid threats from abroad. These threats include sabotage, espionage, cyber attacks, covert operations, and attempts to influence domestic political and security stability.

NATO member states have in recent years repeatedly accused Russia of being behind a number of cyber attacks, disruptions to navigation systems, and various hybrid operations in Europe. Moscow denies the accusations and considers various Western claims to be used to justify the increased militarisation of Europe.

Under the draft reform, the BND and BfV are reported to gain greater capability to penetrate the computers and smartphones of targets. One method mentioned is infiltration through Trojan software.

This authority marks a significant change because intelligence agencies are no longer expected merely to detect attacks, but can also take active measures against infrastructure deemed to be used by perpetrators of cyber attacks, as reported by a number of German and European media on Friday (14/8/2026).

Thus, when a computer network in Germany is attacked from abroad, the intelligence services can obtain a legal basis not only to identify the source of the threat, but also to disrupt or disable the digital infrastructure used by the attacker.