Kathmandu— Germany's opposition parties are sharply criticizing proposed reforms to the country’s intelligence services, arguing that expanding the powers of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) could infringe on police authority and violate constitutional safeguards. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt presented a 730-page package of draft laws Wednesday intended to modernize Germany's security apparatus by granting the BfV new “operative powers” – including hacking, disinformation, and sabotage – but critics fear these changes represent an overreach with potentially serious consequences.

Expansion of BfV Powers

Currently focused on data collection and analysis, the BfV would be granted authority to actively disrupt suspected threats under the proposed reforms. This includes measures such as hacking computer systems, feeding false information to targets, altering or deleting data, and secretly sabotaging equipment linked to hostile operations. Dobrindt has defended the plan as a necessary response to an evolving “hybrid threat landscape,” but opposition leaders argue it fundamentally alters the balance between security and civil liberties.

Constitutional Concerns Raised

A key concern centers on the traditional separation maintained in Germany between intelligence gathering and police work. Critics point out that the BfV operates under a different legal oversight system than law enforcement, which generally requires judicial authorization for intrusive measures. Wolfgang Kubicki, leader of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), warned that the proposed changes would “do far more harm than good,” while Green Party MP Konstantin von Notz predicted the reform would end up before the Federal Constitutional Court.

AfD Opposition and Political Context

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, itself a frequent subject of BfV scrutiny, has also denounced the proposal. Gottfried Curio, the AfD’s domestic-policy spokesman, described it as a “deliberate attempt to blur the line” between intelligence gathering and policing, calling it an “arrogant self-empowerment” by the federal government. Christian Wirth, another AfD lawmaker, warned that the reforms could transform the BfV into an instrument of totalitarian control. Despite facing widespread opposition from other parties, recent polling suggests the AfD is gaining support, potentially allowing it to form single-party governments in some states.

The proposed legislation is currently under debate, with significant hurdles expected as critics prepare legal challenges and seek to amend the draft laws before they are put to a vote.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.