Operating in the shadows: Germany’s intelligence services

Cyberattacks on networks, sabotage targeting infrastructure, campaigns aimed at influencing opinion – today’s threats travel through cables, clouds and minds. Added to this are provocations such as airspace violations by drones and fighter jets. There is no doubt: Germany’s intelligence services have plenty to keep them busy. The Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is responsible for foreign intelligence and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) ensures security at home, while the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) protects the Bundeswehr. All this has little to do with “007”-style missions. Alongside espionage and counterterrorism, digital intelligence and the defence against hybrid attacks are the main focus – as is protecting an open society in a world where information has become a weapon.

BND: intelligence in an unstable world

Germany’s foreign intelligence service faces enormous geopolitical upheavals, not least since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. “In Europe, we’re seeing at best an icy peace that could escalate into a full-scale confrontation at any moment,” warns BND President Martin Jäger. In office since mid-September 2025, he aims to make the agency faster, more innovative and more effective. The BND gathers and analyses information from abroad – including communications and data streams – to detect political crises or potential attacks at an early stage. It is a key source of information for the Federal Government on the complex and tense situation in Lebanon, the role of Hezbollah and Iran’s influence in the region. The BND cooperates closely with partner services in Europe and the United States. And yes – intelligence officers are deployed as well, though far less spectacularly than on the big screen.

BfV: protecting the constitution 

For 75 years, the BfV (Bundesverfassungschutz – Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) has focused on internal security. Sinan Selen, BfV President since October 2025, warns: “The security situation has worsened over the past ten years.” The BfV monitors extremist tendencies within Germany – primarily right-wing, left-wing and Islamist movements – drawing on experts and informants. Another focus is identifying targeted disinformation pushed by anti-state networks on social media. Working closely with platform operators and other security authorities to detect digital influence operations before they take effect, the agency sees itself as “democracy’s early-warning system”.

MAD: countering espionage in the military sphere

The Military Counterintelligence Service (Militärischer Abschirmdienst, MAD) is tasked with protecting the Bundeswehr from espionage, extremism and sabotage. MAD President Martina Rosenberg is likewise concerned: “We're seeing a sharp rise in cases involving espionage and hybrid measures. The methods are more forceful and more aggressive.” For this reason, the MAD is expanding its activities – from security screenings in Germany to cooperation with partners abroad. Cyberattacks targeting arms procurement projects, covert information-gathering within the forces and attempts to influence soldiers form part of the MAD’s counter-intelligence work.