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Germany gives spy agencies expanded powers

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Phil Gayle
August 13, 2026

The government says the reforms are needed to tackle foreign threats from spying, sabotage, hybrid warfare and cyberattacks. The new powers will give intelligence services more freedom to conduct covert operations.

The German government wants its spies to have new powers to hack communications and disrupt the operations of foreign adversaries.

They say this will counter a growing threat from cyber and hybrid attacks.

What are German spies doing now, and who exactly are Germany's enemies? 

DW put these and other questions to Raphael Bossong, Deputy Head of the Research Division at the German Institute for International & Security Affairs. 

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