The federal government’s plan to allow several security agencies to counter-attack during cyberattacks is facing skepticism from both the ruling coalition and the opposition. Sebastian Fiedler, the internal affairs spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, stated to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, WDR, and NDR that he is personally reluctant to equip too many agencies with such extensive powers. He argued that instead of spreading capabilities widely, efforts should focus on ensuring only a few agencies are exceptionally well-equipped to effectively defend against cyberattacks, requiring tight delineation of responsibilities and functions. The question of whether the Federal Police should possess these capabilities, alongside the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), still needs to be clarified through parliamentary procedure.
Konstantin von Notz, a politician from the Green Party, also warned against the potential for increased risk rather than enhanced security, citing the dangers of an accountability mess. He noted that the BKA, the Federal Police, the domestic intelligence service (BfV), and the federal states all possess significant expertise. Notz insisted that “someone must ultimately be responsible and bear the legal and political burden” emphasizing that all responsibilities and resources must be absolutely clear at all times.
According to reports from the “SZ”, WDR, and NDR, the government’s draft restructuring of cyber defense goes beyond the options presented by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt for the BKA and Federal Police. The plans specifically intend to authorize the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) to “interfere detrimentally” with the infrastructure of cyber attackers. This is detailed in a departmental paper from the Ministry of the Interior, which the media cited. The plan includes manipulating attack tools to “prevent damage” and introducing “distracting misinformation”. The ministry paper rationalizes this necessity by arguing that the BfV frequently receives information from foreign agents in such situations that should not be passed on to the police.
