At the end of April 2026, the German federal cabinet passed "Security Package 2.0", amending the BKA Act and the Federal Police Act to significantly expand digital investigative powers. The legislation authorises the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Police to conduct automated data analysis, biometric internet matching, and the testing and training of artificial intelligence systems. Under Section 98e of the Code of Criminal Procedure, investigative authorities are permitted to network police databases and automatically compare biometric photographs against publicly available internet images to determine a person's location. The Federal Bar Association has criticised the measures, warning that they will allow far-reaching movement and personality profiles to be created. The analysis software under consideration includes the Gotham system from American company Palantir, which is already utilised by state police forces in Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg.

Background: Surveillance and Smart Cities

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