Germany proposes expanded digital investigative powers for police

Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and Federal Police are to gain expanded digital investigative powers under three draft bills agreed by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig.

The proposals, seen by dpa, would allow automated data analysis and the matching of biometric information, such as photos, with publicly available internet data.

The reforms aim to improve the identification of individuals, locate wanted persons and uncover links between crimes and perpetrators. Authorities say the tools would be particularly useful in investigations of terrorism, serious and organized crime, allowing large datasets to be scanned for patterns and hidden connections.

Biometric internet matching would help law enforcement trace suspects online and link faces to names. Artificial intelligence and other digital tools could assist in tracking criminal activity, Hubig said, but all decisions in criminal proceedings would remain the responsibility of human investigators.

The draft legislation would also allow the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) to match photos with publicly available internet images, limited to biometric data from foreigners without valid passports.