Reform of the intelligence services: “work of the century” or “monster”?

Reform of the intelligence services “work of the century” or “monster”? As of: November 13, 2026 • 5:23 a.m

The Bundestag is voting today on reforming the intelligence services. They should be given more powers. Interior Minister Dobrindt speaks of a "work of the century" - others of a "monster".

Alexander Dobrindt promises the big hit. The Federal Minister of the Interior is convinced: "The reform of the intelligence services - a work of the century." Dobrindt wants to turn the German intelligence services into “real secret services.”

The Federal Intelligence Service (BND), the foreign secret service, is receiving more powers. This also finds some support in the opposition. Things look different with the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the domestic intelligence service. Where CSU man Dobrindt speaks of a “work of the century,” others see a “monster.”

The debate about the plans is too heated, says Markus Sambale. But some of the concerns should be heard. more

"What is being created there is a monster that can summon spirits that we probably won't be able to get rid of." This is how Clara Bünger, security politician for the Left, describes it to the ARD capital studio.

Bünger sees a breach of a taboo when the separation between police and secret service - a lesson from the Nazi era - is shaken: "Above all, there remains criticism of the weakening of the separation requirement," says the left-wing politician. "That means that the secret service is given executive powers and is not only allowed to act in advance, but also gets police powers."

The new suspected case of treason hits the BND at the worst possible time. more

According to the new law, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is no longer only allowed to collect information and monitor people. He can also take action himself - if he has concrete evidence of terrorist attacks or espionage.

In certain cases, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is allowed to secretly break into an apartment in order to install spying software on a smartphone, manipulate an IT system or render weapons harmless.

The opposition warns against breaking with the lessons of history. more

The Greens see the innovations in the protection of the constitution in a more differentiated manner. Even though more mechanisms for controlling the secret services have recently been built into the law, the Green Party's security politician, Konstantin von Notz, complains that the distinction between police responsibility remains unclear. “Transparency and legal protection for those affected” also remained inadequate.

An investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice executed the arrest warrant, the Federal Prosecutor's Office said. more

Interior Minister Dobrindt, on the other hand, defends his line: He believes new powers for the police and intelligence services are urgently needed. And he repeatedly refers to the threats: "Sabotage on railway lines, cyber attacks on hospitals and administrations, the attack on the power supply in Berlin, espionage in authorities and companies, disinformation campaigns."

Even if the Bundestag decides on the innovations for intelligence services today, there remains a delicate balance between greater security and interference with civil rights. That is why critics are likely to take the law to the Federal Constitutional Court. That would have to review the reform, which the responsible minister describes as the work of the century. And others as monsters.

This topic in the program: tagesschau.de | Work of the century or monster? German intelligence services will soon be allowed to do more | 11/13/2026 | 05:22 am