The alleged interception affair involving Signal is fueling widespread security anxieties across Germany. Konstantin von Notz, a deputy leader of the Green parliamentary group and a member of the parliamentary control body for intelligence services, warned the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that the espionage attack must serve as a major wake-up call for all security agencies. He emphasized the need for Germany to fully grasp Moscow’s agenda behind the attacks, asserting that they are real, pose a serious threat, and that agents are actively operating daily to spy and plan acts of sabotage within the country.
The interior minister also expressed concerns about the long-term repercussions of the Signal breach. Calling the event “highly relevant” von Notz noted that intelligence services might attempt to discredit the victims. Regardless, he stressed that the attackers have gained a significant intelligence advantage which must not be underestimated.
Reports emerged over the weekend that the hacked individuals included several top politicians, specifically Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU), as well as Construction Minister Verena Hubertz (SPD) and Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU). The fact that high-profile public figures were successfully spied upon in an operation attributed to Russia by security authorities has reportedly stunned cybersecurity experts. Linus Neumann of the Chaos Computer Club, a prominent association of hackers and cybersecurity experts, criticized the breach, stating, “It wasn’t Signal; it was Mrs. Klöckner who was hacked”. According to Neumann, this constitutes “a considerable individual failure, although one that falls within a structure that made it possible”.
