April 26, 2026, 12:17 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
The federal government plans new regulations for handling IP addresses. The goal is to strengthen law enforcement against cybercrime and identify perpetrators on the internet more quickly. According to the cabinet draft, IP addresses are to be stored for three months.
The background is that such data is often deleted quickly, causing important traces to be lost that can be crucial for investigations. Authorities have seen this as a problem in solving serious crimes for years.
New Powers for Security Authorities
In addition to the extended storage of IP addresses, the draft law includes further measures for police and security authorities. This includes the easier use of cell tower queries to identify devices near crime scenes. At the same time, certain data should be secured more quickly when an order is in place.
It’s important to make distinctions: Content such as chats, emails, or browsing behavior will not be stored. The focus, according to the draft, is solely on traffic data that can contribute to evidence preservation.
Criticism and Political Justification
The initiative has elicited varied reactions. Critics warn of potential privacy intrusions and see security risks. They fear an expansion of surveillance in the digital realm.
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Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) defends the plans. In his view, they are necessary to make perpetrators visible and better uncover criminal networks. Additionally, existing gaps in law enforcement should be closed.