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Intelligence explained

Collecting information, preparing analyses, and reporting are the three main elements of intelligence work.

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Collecting Information

Intelligence services are allowed to do what is illegal for everybody else: spying. Only very few entities, all of them government authorities, are allowed to spy, i.e. use intelligence methods. When foreign countries are concerned, it is the BND that uses these intelligence methods to fulfil its statutory mission within the German security architecture.

Collecting Information
Informationsgewinnung

Analysis

Intelligence information often reaches us only in fragments or only as an unconfirmed rumour. Our experts thus check its authenticity and then consolidate it to a conclusive analysis.

Analysis
Analyse

Reporting

Our assessments are particularly important for the Federal Government if no information or only conflicting information is obtainable through other channels.

Reporting
Berichterstattung

Cooperation

Our world today is ever more fast-moving and complex. This also applies to security risks that Germany is exposed to. Successfully identifying, analysing and warding them off is a task that no German security agency can do on their own.

Cooperation
Flaggen der Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union