Expanded Resources for Government Inquiries
On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, the German cabinet unveiled a concept and an amendment to the Police Act, opening a consultation period for the proposed changes. This move comes as a response to the current security situation, which necessitates the immediate provision of powerful software capable of processing and analysing large datasets.
The new software, currently in use, is housed in secure data centers in Germany under police jurisdiction, ensuring its isolation from the public network. This software, not connected to foreign authorities, is a time-limited solution aimed at quickly providing the necessary capabilities.
The contract with the current software provider includes stringent IT security measures to prevent unwanted data exfiltration, manipulation, or introduction, as well as unwanted functional extensions (so-called backdoors). The software's application is subject to self-defined technical conditions that are regularly reviewed and updated.
Minister President Winfried Kretschmann emphasised that the amendment provides police officers with a modern and effective analysis tool for greater citizen security. Thomas Strobl, Interior and Digitalization Minister, further emphasised the need for powerful and secure software for threat recognition and defense in the digital space.
In a bid to advance Europe's technological and security policy sovereignty, the German-French technology engine from Airbus and Schwarz Digits has the potential to significantly contribute to this endeavour. The Police Act has been amended to allow for automated data processing and is open to any software that enables cross-procedural research and analysis.
On September 23, 2024, the top leaders of the green-black ruling coalition agreed on a comprehensive security package, which includes the introduction of a cross-procedural research and analysis platform (VeRA) to combat terrorism and prevent serious crimes.
Recognising the importance of Europe becoming more sovereign in software development, Minister Strobl has initiated a cooperation with industrial partners to develop a sovereign European software, Europe-VeRA. Initial project partners for Europe-VeRA include Airbus Defence and Space GmbH and the digital division of the Schwarz Group, Schwarz Digits.
Parliamentary control is being expanded to oversee the new legal tool, with the secret session Parliamentarian Control Committee presenting an IT security report four times a year. The details regarding specific companies involved in the development of Europe-VeRA for long-term research and analysis of large amounts of police data are yet to be disclosed.
