The security package introduced by the federal government comes after the deadly Solingen knife attack in August – but with modest restrictions on limited surveillance powers. “We were able to establish in the law that biometric comparisons with Internet data cannot be used against people who are in danger,” Green Party deputy Constantin von Notz stressed in his assessment of the results of the government factions’ negotiations available online. which do not pose a threat.” On Heise. The domestic politician, together with his colleagues Dirk Wiese (SPD) and Constantin Kuhle (FDP), had announced earlier on Friday that the coalition had agreed to improve the government draft.
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Budget 2025: Bundestag increases funding for sovereign tech fundIn principle, according to the agreement, the planned authority of the executive branch to biometrically compare publicly accessible Internet data, for example for facial recognition, remains in place. The purpose of this highly controversial and so far obscure initiative is to make it easier for investigators to identify suspects or wanted people. Witnesses and victims who have no legitimate interest should now be released. According to von Notz, when it comes to digital the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), the Federal Police and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) are only allowed to work with providers that are headquartered in the Schengen Area and the European Union. Is in the union. Analysis. The transfer of data to third countries with a lower level of protection is therefore rejected.
The government also wanted to allow “automated analysis of police data by the BKA and the Federal Police” supported by AI, as well as testing and training of data for AI applications in the style of Palantir & Co. In concrete terms, this means that large numbers of police databases can be brought together virtually and searched automatically. There are concerns that the presumption of innocence will be lost. According to the Green Paper, the Coalition is now limiting these new powers of law enforcement officers to “the prosecution or prevention of the most serious crimes” – such as murder and manslaughter, serious robbery or the formation of a terrorist organisation.
The amendment should become law as soon as possible
The government must first “specify the use” of all new powers through legal regulation “in accordance with the Constitution and European law”. That would have to involve the Federal Data Protection Commissioner Louisa Specht-Rimenschneider. “We have significantly improved the control rights of the supervisory authority over the systems used,” von Notz stressed. Overall, the Greens managed to implement “several very relevant” reforms despite the poor starting position. These ensured real applicability and increased the effectiveness of many standards.
Despite the changes, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Feser (SPD) was convinced that the package was “the right response to the significant current threats from Islamic terrorism, especially after the deadly attack in Solingen.” The liberal Kuhle called for a moderate expansion of police powers that respect fundamental rights. Specific improvement requests are still in progress. However, they must quickly pass the parliament’s internal committee next Wednesday and the full assemblies of the Bundestag and Bundesrat over the next two days.
At a hearing in September, experts described the original proposals as cautious or negative. Specht-Riemschneider warned: Authorizations for such fundamental rights-intensive measures should not be made hastily. All proposed standards for facial recognition contained elements that were too vague and allowed significant interference with the rights of those not involved. Bremen information lawyer Dennis-Kenji Kipker warned of a “security data meltdown”. From civil society, the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) & Co. raged against the planned “all-round biometric surveillance”.
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