Skepticism welcomes Germany’s DARPA-like cybersecurity agency - The federal agency tasked with creating cutting-edge defense technology

On Wednesday, the German government announced the creation of a new federal agency to develop cutting-edge cyber defense technology. The agency would resemble the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and would be managed by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the interior.

Germany has always had background of rising numbers of cyber attacks. German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen affirms that the agency would encourage Germany’s investment in new technologies and in the protection of critical digital infrastructure. The agency will also be partnering with other EU countries on agency projects. The agency akin to DARPA will make Germany more independent in its fight against cyber threats.

Ministers in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government said on Wednesday that Germany will invest €200 million over the next five years to launch this agency that will develop its own cyber defense capabilities.

The news, however, was not taken well by some lawmakers who have expressed their concerns about the new agency. The issue of military-led and cyber warfare has been a disputable topic in Germany. Anke Domscheit-Berg, digital policy spokeswoman for the Left Party, expressed her concern on this matter.

She believes that more digital security would definitely help Germany, however, her apprehension lies in the fact that the agency is located between the Defense Ministry and the Interior Ministry.

Green Party spokesman Konstantin von Notz argued that the agency will work against the Foreign Ministry’s work. In a statement released to DW, Noz mentioned that the agency would massively undermine the Foreign Ministry’s efforts at the UN to outlaw cyber weapons Instead of promoting a spiraling escalation in the digital space, the government needs to make a U-turn on IT security.”

Read the entire coverage of this article on DW for more insights on the matter.

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