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Photo: Martin Gerten / DPA
The reform was very controversial in the coalition, now the federal government has decided that secret services will in future be allowed to read communications via WhatsApp and other encrypted messenger services.
The cabinet decided on Wednesday that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the Federal Intelligence Service and the Military Counter-Intelligence Service (MAD) will not only be allowed to monitor ongoing conversations via messenger, but also messages that are sent via messenger.
However, the prerequisite for the so-called source TKÜ is a corresponding order in each individual case.
The secret services cannot read and save communication at their own discretion.
In order to improve the control of the surveillance measures, the number of members of the G10 commission of the Bundestag responsible for their approval will be increased.
In addition, the Commission is to be provided with a technical advisor.
The reform has yet to be approved by the Bundestag.
Secret services prior to the invention of the Internet
Proponents of the draft say that this would only bring the domestic intelligence service back to the level at which it was before the invention of the Internet and mobile communications.
At that time it was enough to eavesdrop on landline telephones.
A first draft had already been sent to the other ministries for comment in March 2019.
At that time, he also provided the secret services with permission for "online searches".
This means covert access to computers, smartphones and other IT devices, whose data can then be read out.
This passage was deleted under pressure from the SPD.
The draft from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, which has now been approved by the cabinet, also provides for an expanded exchange of information between the MAD and the constitutional protection authorities.
The barriers to the observation of individuals by the protection of the constitution will also be lowered.
The Federal Government is thus drawing conclusions from the right-wing extremist terrorist attacks in Halle and Hanau.
Both attacks were carried out by perpetrators who, according to previous knowledge, did not belong to any group.
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