In episode 187 of “Follow the Rechtsstaat”, Prof. Niko Härting and Jan Hemann speak with lawyer Peter Schantz about the planned reform of intelligence service legislation and, in particular, the future powers of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND).
The focus is on the question of how far the BND’s powers should extend in future. Among other things, the discussion covers the planned changes to strategic telecommunications surveillance, the use of so-called ‘state Trojans’, and the BND’s potential powers within Germany and in relation to German nationals.
The discussion also covers the oversight of the intelligence services, the legal remedies available to those affected, and the role of the Independent Supervisory Board and the Federal Data Protection Commissioner.
Peter Schantz has critically examined the reform plans on behalf of the Society for Civil Liberties and served as a department head at the Federal Ministry of Justice until the end of 2024.