German Federal Chancellery deactivates public fax number

The German Federal Chancellery and the Federal Press Office have deactivated their publicly accessible fax number. The contact information, which had been listed in the legal notices of both government agencies for many years, was removed from their websites in mid-August.

A government spokesperson declined to provide specific reasons for the change, stating that the administration cannot comment on the “concrete design of IT and the communication tools used by the federal administration” due to security concerns.

While the use of fax machines is often mocked in the modern era, proponents note the technology offers secure transmission and legally recognized receipt confirmations. Although the German Bundestag discontinued its public fax services in 2024, reports suggest that the ability to send and receive faxes remains available in Berlin for communication with specific recipients, such as foreign governments.