Frankfurt (Germany), 27 May (LaPresse) – The German government has approved a draft bill to strengthen defences against cyberattacks, expanding the powers of security authorities and shifting from an approach based primarily on prevention to a strategy of ‘active defence’. Presenting the bill following its approval by the Cabinet, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described cyberattacks as a “growing threat”, arguing that simply protecting IT systems is no longer sufficient. “Germany is one of the world’s primary targets for cyberattacks,” Dobrindt said in Berlin, explaining that the economy, industry, research, public administration and politics are increasingly under threat, often from state actors as well. “The objectives are sabotage, espionage, disinformation and extortion, but also to destabilise our society, demonstrate strength in the digital sphere and, at times, prepare for a conventional military escalation,” he added. The reform, which still requires the approval of the Bundestag, provides for a strengthening of the powers of the Criminal Police, the Federal Police and the BSI, the Federal Office for Information Security. The authorities will be able to take active measures against digital infrastructure deemed dangerous, including the ability to block hostile IT systems, redirect data traffic and, in some cases, read, delete or modify data to neutralise threats. “In future, we will target the attacker: their servers, their software, their strategy,” said Dobrindt. “We will be able to disrupt and destroy systems, software and servers used by attackers, even if these facilities are located abroad.” According to the minister, the technical capabilities for operations of this kind already existed, but until now there had been no clear legal basis for using them. “This is not about acts of revenge, but about defending ourselves against an active threat,” he clarified.
© Copyright LaPresse
