This emerges from a draft law, which NDR, WDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung are reporting on again. The powers of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) are to be extended as if the Snowden revelations had never happened. The foreign intelligence service could thus act more independently
The plans are also explosive in the area of active cyber espionage. Under the heading “Computer Network Exploitation”, the BND is to receive another official license to hack. If US tech giants like Google, Meta, or X do not cooperate with requests, the BND would be allowed to penetrate their systems secretly. This would even apply to IT infrastructures within Germany, provided it is necessary to defend against hostile cyberattacks. The line between domestic and foreign intelligence gathering would thus be difficult to maintain.
Former allies are being unpredictable, and reliance on existing intelligence sharing arrangements are falling apart. It’s not so surprising that countries want to continue using the access they already have, even if one door is closed to them.
I doubt it’s just Germany drawing up contingencies after the past year.