The Federal Constitution Protection Service (BFV) in Germany has established a special working group aimed at safeguarding the upcoming elections from potential cyber attacks, espionage, sabotage, and disinformation that could be orchestrated by foreign states attempting to influence the country’s political landscape. This proactive measure comes in response to the perceived risk of outside intervention in the democratic process.
The newly formed working group comprises experts from intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and international organizations. Their primary objective is to detect and thwart any attempts at interfering in the elections promptly. Specific details about the operational strategies of the group have not been publicly disclosed. The extraordinary elections are set to take place on February 23 following the dissolution of a three-party coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
BFV has expressed concerns about ongoing information warfare efforts by other countries directed at Germany, including the spread of propaganda and misinformation designed to sow discord in society and influence political decision-making. Recent incidents have underscored the seriousness of these threats, such as the cyber attacks on the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in recent months.
The security agency also warns of the potential for other forms of sabotage targeting critical infrastructure. In October, the European Union condemned hybrid operations that included attacks on weapons industries, interference with satellite communications, and physical assaults on individuals. The dynamic nature of these threats makes it difficult to predict the exact scenarios that may unfold, with BFV noting that threat actors are adept at exploiting various events to further their agendas and narratives.