November 22, 2024, 6:22 p.m
Berlin. Despite the recent suspected attack on data cables in the Baltic Sea and warnings of further acts of sabotage, Germany is making no progress in protecting critical infrastructure (Kritis). In view of the coalition break, the so-called Kritis umbrella law introduced by the federal government will probably no longer pass the Bundestag in this legislative period, reports “Welt am Sonntag”.
According to “Welt am Sonntag”, the Union made it clear that it did not want to agree to the project. The parliamentary managing director of the Union, Thorsten Frei (CDU), warned that a “turning point” was also needed in this area. However, the CDU and CSU do not want to agree to the draft law passed by the cabinet just a few hours before the coalition break on November 6th.
“I’m extremely skeptical,” said Frei. “In my opinion, the cabinet draft still contains far too many errors and inconsistencies. The traffic light took far too much time on the issue and lacked the necessary care.”
The Kritis umbrella law is intended to uniformly regulate the protection of important infrastructure, such as energy supply, telecommunications or transport. Operators would be required to meet minimum standards to protect against natural disasters, terrorist attacks and acts of sabotage.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) campaigned until recently for its adoption in the Bundestag. The deputy of the Green Party, Konstantin von Notz, told “Welt am Sonntag”: “The years of inaction, including that of all previous governments, borders on negligence.”
In the wake of the Russian war of aggression, the threat has increased significantly. “The Russian side in particular is acting openly aggressively. Incidents with Chinese ships occur again and again,” said von Notz. As Democrats, we must “stand together when it comes to increasing the resilience of our society and protecting critical infrastructure.”
After the law was passed in the cabinet, the FDP described it as a “low-bureaucracy and important step to strengthen resilience”. Now FDP internal politicians did not want to comment on the question of how the parliamentary group feels about the paragraphs after the coalition break.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen warned of aggression by Russia in light of the alleged attack on data cables in the Baltic Sea. “These hybrid attacks are not new in themselves, but perhaps awareness has grown, especially in the last year within the EU and NATO, of how serious such attacks are and that they can ultimately be equated with a military attack,” Valtonen told the ” World on Sunday”.
The destruction of the data cables is being investigated by an international team. “There is also a need for cooperation with China, because this suspicious ship that was just sailing over the cables when these cracks occurred must of course be investigated,” said Valtonen. “It’s about us being able to attribute who is behind it. If it’s a state, that could end up triggering an article of the NATO treaty.”
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**What specific legislative or regulatory measures, beyond the Kritis Umbrella Law, could effectively address the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure while respecting individual rights and privacy concerns?**
## World Today News Exclusive Interview: Critical Infrastructure and the Threat Landscape
**Hosts:** Welcome to World Today News Interview. Today, we delve into the pressing issue of critical infrastructure protection in the wake of suspected sabotage against data cables in the Baltic Sea. We are pleased to be joined by two esteemed guests:
* **Dr. Anna Schmidt:** Cybersecurity expert and author of “Securing the Grid: A Multi-Layered Approach to Critical Infrastructure Protection.”
* **Mr. Peter Jensen:** Former Director of the National Cybersecurity Agency, specializing in international cooperation and intelligence sharing.
**Section 1: The Kritis Umbrella Law and its Uncertain Future**
**Host:** Dr. Schmidt, the Kritis Umbrella Law was intended to be a landmark piece of legislation, aiming for a unified approach to critical infrastructure protection. What are your thoughts on the current political roadblocks facing its passage?
**Dr. Schmidt:** While I believe the Kritis Umbrella Law is crucial, the delays and lack of consensus highlight a significant challenge: balancing security needs with legal and bureaucratic concerns. It raises the question: are we sacrificing long-term safety for short-term political expediency?
**Host:** Mr. Jensen, from an international perspective, how does Germany’s struggle with implementing this legislation compare to other nations facing similar threats?
**Mr. Jensen:** Germany is not alone. Many countries are grappling with the need to modernize their critical infrastructure security frameworks. The increasingly complex nature of cyber threats, coupled with geopolitical tensions, necessitates collaborative efforts and swift action.
**Section 2: The Threat Landscape: State Actors and Hybrid Warfare**
**Host:** Mr. Jensen, the article mentions the Finnish Foreign Minister’s concern about the alleged attack on data cables potentially triggering Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. How directly do you see Russia’s actions contributing to the escalating threat assessment?
**Mr. Jensen:** The alleged attack serves as a stark reminder of Russia’s willingness to utilize hybrid warfare tactics, targeting critical infrastructure to destabilize and weaken adversaries. We must remain vigilant and develop robust countermeasures against such aggression.
**Host:** Dr. Schmidt, how has the concept of “hybrid warfare” evolved, and what specific vulnerabilities does it exploit in critical infrastructure?
**Dr. Schmidt:** Hybrid warfare blurs traditional lines of conflict, incorporating cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and economic sabotage alongside military actions. It targets critical infrastructure because disrupting these systems can cripple essential services and sow chaos within a society.
**Section 3: Building Resilience: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach**
**Host:** Despite the challenges, what steps can be taken to mitigate the risk to critical infrastructure and ensure national security?
**Dr. Schmidt:** A multi-layered approach is essential. This involves strengthening cybersecurity measures, improving resilience through redundancy and diversification, and fostering international cooperation for information sharing and coordinated response.
**Host:** Mr. Jensen, you emphasized the importance of international collaboration. What specific areas should be prioritized for strengthening partnerships in this domain?
**Mr. Jensen:** Sharing threat intelligence, coordinating sanctions against malicious actors, and harmonizing legal frameworks for cybercrime prosecution are crucial areas for stronger international collaboration. This requires trust and commitment from all stakeholders.
**Concluding Remarks:**
**Host:** We thank Dr. Schmidt and Mr. Jensen for sharing their valuable insights on this critical issue. The future of critical infrastructure protection hinges on finding a balance between safeguarding national security and upholding individual rights. Only through a collaborative, forward-thinking approach can we build a truly resilient future.
