The Federal Cabinet has approved expanding the digital investigative powers available to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Federal Police.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) described these new capabilities, which were presented in Berlin on Wednesday, as a “major milestone”. He explained that these expanded powers enable police forces to utilize automated data analysis, biometric internet comparisons, and artificial intelligence in their investigations.
Dobrindt stated that the threat landscape has changed, noting that the methods used by opponents intending to challenge the legal system and society have evolved. Consequently, he argued that it is necessary to equip the police and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution with new powers to combat terrorism and organized crime more effectively.
A significant component driving this reform is the sheer volume of data encountered during investigations, which has multiplied over recent years. This data increase necessitates the use of artificial intelligence for comprehensive analysis. Furthermore, the new legislation introduces biometric data matching, allowing security agencies to compare photos found online with existing records, a method that has shown success previously. Dobrindt also emphasized that the security services will now be able to train and customize artificial intelligence themselves for deployment in police work.
