Leipzig’s Abhörzentrale, a joint project of Saxony-Anhalt and five other eastern German states, is not expected to be operational in the current or next year.
According to the “Mitteldeutsche Zeitung” (Monday edition), citing Saxony-Anhalt’s Ministry of the Interior, the facility was initially supposed to be ready since 2021, with the purpose of monitoring the communication of criminals and potential threats.
A software ordered in 2022, which was supposed to be delivered by May 2024, has yet to be completed. A ministry spokesperson stated that a prompt delivery is also not expected, as the company in charge has informed that the development of the software and the start of the facility’s operational phase will likely be delayed by several years.
Despite the missed deadline, the Lauscheinrichtung, officially known as the Gemeinsames Kompetenz- und Dienstleistungszentrum (GKDZ), has decided not to pursue a damages lawsuit, as announced by the board chairman, Markus Pannwitz. “We have thoroughly examined the possibility of a lawsuit, but a court case would likely have taken years and would have meant great uncertainty for all parties involved” Pannwitz said.
Regulatory claims have been settled through a contractual agreement, Pannwitz added. The project’s management is also counting on the company responsible for the software to have a vested interest in the project’s success, as the investment is worth millions of euros and the company would likely want to promote the product elsewhere as well. “It’s a multi-million-euro investment and the manufacturer, of course, wants the project to succeed, as they would also want to market the product elsewhere” Pannwitz said.