Germany strengthens digital defence with new AI institute and coordinated cyber agencies

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that cyber attacks, espionage and sabotage are daily threats in Germany and announced a comprehensive reinforcement of the country’s digital defence. The government will improve organisational, technical and regulatory measures, clarifying responsibilities for emergencies and speeding up responses.

A National Security Council, created in summer 2025, will coordinate political handling of threats across ministries. A new artificial‑intelligence security institute will assess AI‑related risks, exchange knowledge with foreign counterparts and help set uniform standards. The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) will continue to issue warnings, minimum standards and technical recommendations.

For acute incidents, the National Cyber Response Centre will pool information for rapid action, while the Joint Centre for Countering Hybrid Threats, opened in June 2026, will support joint federal‑state efforts. Additional bodies such as the Federal Criminal Police Office, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the Federal Intelligence Service, the armed forces’ cyber division, the Civil Protection Office and the Central Office for IT in the security sector will be involved as needed.