Capabilities of German spy agencies restricted after Nazi era

Frei, of the ruling conservatives, is calling for a “paradigm shift” that would allow the foreign intelligence agency, the BND, to deploy more intrusive surveillance tools, including access to private mobile phones and the ability to store data for up to a year.

Beyond collecting and analysing data, the BND should also be empowered to disrupt radio links during drone attacks and to disable so-called cryptocurrency wallets used to finance murders or acts of sabotage, he said.