Increased Police Surveillance Powers Approved in Berlin

Berlin has approved a significant expansion of police surveillance powers, specifically under paragraphs 26a and 26b. These provisions allow investigators to conduct 'source telecommunications surveillance' and 'online searches,' enabling police to hack into computers and smartphones.

The law permits the installation of state-developed spyware, known as trojans, on personal devices to intercept messages before or after encryption. If remote installation is not possible, officers are authorized to secretly enter a person's home to install surveillance programs directly on the hardware without the occupant's knowledge.

This marks a shift for Berlin, which had previously resisted similar practices, aligning itself with other federal states that allow such intrusions for digital monitoring.