A surge in secret intelligence reviews of non-governmental organizations and individuals seeking public funding has sparked controversy within Germany, raising concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the normalization of surveillance. According to a parliamentary response to a query from the Left Party, German security services, acting on behalf of the government, have scrutinized over 2,500 entities and individuals between 2020 and 2024.
The process, known as the “Haber procedure” allows government agencies, including the Chancellery, various ministries and bodies like the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), to request information from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz). Critically, these requests do not require a specific suspicion of wrongdoing, effectively permitting blanket surveillance of potential grant recipients. Furthermore, the individuals and organizations under review are routinely kept unaware of the intelligence examination they are undergoing.
The practice, ostensibly designed to identify potential security risks, has seen a significant escalation in recent years. The response revealed 210 instances where the Verfassungsschutz reported “constitutionally relevant findings” leading the Interior Ministry to recommend the rejection of funding applications. While the framework for the Haber procedure is not new, dating back to 2004, the scale of its application, particularly since 2020, represents a marked departure from previous practices. Earlier data indicates that around 500 requests were made between 2004 and 2019, but the recent period demonstrates a substantial increase in scope and frequency.
Clara Bünger, the Left Party’s spokesperson for interior policy, has vehemently condemned the expansion of this surveillance apparatus. She accuses the Interior Ministry and the Verfassungsschutz of cultivating a “culture of suspicion” and establishing a “regime of secret espionage” directed at civil society organizations. Critics argue the procedure creates a chilling effect on legitimate activism and undermines the fundamental principles of transparency and due process. The lack of notification to those investigated and the absence of any formal challenge mechanism are particularly concerning aspects of the Haber procedure, potentially fostering an environment of self-censorship and eroding trust between the government and the civil sector. The growing use of this controversial intelligence-gathering process is now facing intense political scrutiny, with calls for a thorough re-evaluation of its legal basis and operational parameters.