Concerns are being raised by critics that the new regulations could be exploited, leading to overreach and an invasion of privacy.
Berlin’s police force will be authorized to clandestinely access private residences to install spyware, following the German House of Representatives’ approval of extensive amendments to the city’s police legislation.
Supported by the ruling CDU-SPD coalition and the opposition AfD, the statute bestows substantial new powers upon the police concerning both physical and digital monitoring.
The updated law permits authorities to secretly enter a suspect’s home to deploy spyware if remote access proves impossible. Berlin police are now legally able to conduct physical intrusions for the purpose of digital surveillance. The revised provisions also allow for the hacking of phones and computers to monitor communications. Furthermore, police can activate their body cameras inside private homes if they believe someone is facing serious danger.
Enacted on Thursday, the legislation also broadens surveillance capabilities in public areas. Authorities can now collect phone data from everyone present in a given location, scan license plates, and counter drones. They are empowered to use facial and voice recognition to identify individuals from surveillance footage. Genuine police data may also be used to train AI. Opponents argue this poses risks of misuse and infringes on private life.
Interior Senator Iris Spranger of the SPD party has defended these measures. “With the most significant reform of the Berlin Police Law in decades, we are creating a considerable benefit for the protection of Berliners,” she stated. “We are equipping law enforcement with enhanced tools to combat terrorism and organized crime.”
Berlin has witnessed an increase in criminal activity. In 2024, police documented over 539,000 offenses – a higher figure than the preceding year. Violent crimes, such as assault and domestic violence, also saw an uptick. Officials report a growing issue with crimes involving young people and migrants, particularly in major urban centers. More than half of all reported crimes remain unsolved.
Opposition to the law has intensified since its passage. During parliamentary deliberations, Green Party MP Vasili Franco remarked that the law resembles a wish list for a state seeking excessive control over its citizens. Civil rights organizations have labeled the expanded use of AI and facial recognition as “a massive assault on civil liberties.”
The NoASOG campaign alliance also voiced strong criticism of the reforms, asserting: “What is being marketed as security policy is in reality the establishment of an authoritarian surveillance state.”