Federal Police Law Modernized With New Powers

The German Bundestag has today approved legislation to modernize the Federal Police Act. This reform aims to equip the Federal Police (Bundespolizei) with up-to-date authorities and technical capabilities to meet contemporary security challenges.

The new law, replacing legislation from 1994, updates the police's mandate to address a significantly changed security landscape. It expands their operational scope to include activities at borders, train stations, on trains, and at airports. The reform introduces provisions for the use of advanced technologies, including AI-powered video analysis for locating missing persons and for defending against sabotage drones that threaten air traffic.

Under the new regulations, the Federal Police will be able to utilize AI systems for tasks such as locating mobile phones in criminal investigations or enhancing the monitoring of encrypted communications used by smuggling rings and organized crime. The law also aims to facilitate the identification of individuals posing a threat to the state or citizens, as well as to help find kidnapping victims or missing persons through biometric data analysis.

Representatives from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group emphasized that the law strengthens the Federal Police's operational capacity and expresses confidence in its officers. The legislation seeks to balance freedom and security by ensuring proportionate regulations for effective crime fighting.