Intelligence services obtain a large part of their information from open sources. In addition, the scope for action of foreign intelligence services has significantly expanded because of the development of new technologies and growing digitisation. Their covert activities to gather information and exert illegitimate influence, to illegally acquire weapons and know-how (called “proliferation”) as well as to conduct sabotage and terrorism represent a considerable challenge to the German domestic intelligence services. The activities of foreign intelligence services directed against Germany cover a wide range of areas. They strive to obtain information relating to various fields. Their governments’ political priorities determine the focus of the intelligence services’ work. They act on behalf of and under the control of their respective governments.
Moreover, many intelligence services run operations directly from their headquarters in their home countries.įoreign intelligence services carry out activities in and against Germany, partly using clandestine methods. The intelligence officers (agents) who seem to work there, for example, as diplomats or journalists engage in overt or covert information gathering or provide support for intelligence operations. embassy, consulate general) or semi-official (e.g. The term refers to bases used by foreign intelligence services in their host countries under cover of one of their own countries’ official (e.g. Many countries have diplomatic and consular representations in Germany, some of which house “legal residencies”. This means entering the world of espionage, which is where the intelligence services come into play as key actors. Their ambition is to obtain intelligence from other countries that is not intended for the general public. Many governments, though, do not content themselves with gathering publicly available information. The German domestic intelligence services investigate illegal activities by foreign powers in and against Germany so that such activities can be stopped.įor the governments of almost all states, sensitive information from abroad is essential in order to develop their policies, to respond in time to global crises or to advance their global political ambitions, for instance.ĭiplomats collect publicly available information to brief their governments about current events and long-term developments as well as to promote the relations between their home countries and their host country. However, they are also involved in state terrorism, influence and disinformation, or sabotage, and they acquire components and know-how for the production of weapons of mass destruction. Their aim is always to obtain sensitive information. Foreign intelligence services act in secret. The role of the German domestic intelligence services Anti-extremist and anti-terrorist hotlineĪnti-extremist and anti-terrorist hotline-OverviewĮxit programme for left-wing extremistsĮxit programme for right-wing extremistsĪnti-extremist and anti-terrorist hotline.Islamist extremism and Islamist terrorismįoreign extremism (excluding Islamist extremism) "Reichsbürger" and "Selbstverwalter" The German domestic intelligence services The consultation also considers whether there is the case for new tools and powers to criminalise other harmful activity conducted by, and on behalf of states.National and international co-operation
Counter espionage registration#
the creation of a Foreign Influence Registration Scheme – an important new tool to help combat espionage, interference, and to protect research in sensitive subject areas, as well as to provide a greater awareness of foreign influence currently being exerted in the UK.reform of the Official Secrets Act 1989 – which governs the law around the unauthorised disclosure of official material and its onward disclosure.reform of the Official Secrets Acts 1911, 19 – these acts contain the core espionage offences which have failed to keep pace with the threat and modern legal standards.These proposals, which are intentionally designed to be country and actor agnostic, include: improve our ability to protect official data and ensure the associated offences reflect the greater ease at which significant harm can be done.create new offences, tools and powers to detect, deter and disrupt hostile activity in and targeted at the UK.modernise existing counter espionage laws to reflect the modern threat and modern legislative standards.This consultation sets out the government’s proposals and seeks input to inform the final policy and legislative proposals.Īt their core the legislative proposals in the consultation seek to do 3 things:
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