Niedersachsen’s Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) has expressed scepticism about Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt’s (CSU) plans for a “Cyberdome” and a new national intelligence framework.
When asked by “Tagesspiegel” what exactly the Cyberdome would entail, Behrens admitted, “To be honest, I still don’t know exactly what is meant by the Cyberdome”. She added that she is eager to see the concept presented to the states in time. Meanwhile, Niedersachsen has just launched a statewide cyber‑security umbrella worth €30 million to protect the public administration.
Behrens stated she would gladly support a nationwide approach if it proves useful for Niedersachsen. In that context she called a strengthening of the Federal Office for Information Security (Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik) “sufficiently sensible”.
Her criticism of the proposed constitutional protection reform was also clear. “The ‘mothers and fathers’ of the Basic Law created the constitutional protection as an early‑warning system for democracy” she emphasized. “It should collect information, monitor extremists, and assess threats”. Niedersacns has already reformed its state‑level constitutional protection agency and enhanced investigative possibilities. She stressed that the goal is not to allow one intelligence service to become proactive at the expense of others.
“I am curious to see what the federal interior minister will propose as a constitutional‑protection amendment” Behrens said. “So far, we have no concrete details”.
