in-the-media
Germany’s spy agency comes in from the cold
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Published by
Interface
June 22, 2026
In a feature examining the German government's push to expand the powers and capabilities of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), Dr. Thorsten Wetzling provided a critical perspective on the prevailing narrative that German intelligence is overly constrained by domestic regulations. He cautioned against politicized comparisons with other European agencies and noted that the current legal framework, while requiring comprehensive reform, actually affords the BND more operational leeway than is commonly acknowledged in public debates.
Author
Dr. Thorsten Wetzling
Lead Digital Rights, Surveillance and Democracy