Germany is reportedly weighing administrative actions against the official responsible for the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) amid allegations of connections to Russia, as reported by several German media on Monday.
The head of the agency, Arne Schönbohm, is alleged to have ties with an organization known as the German Cyber Security Council. Several journalistic investigations have raised questions about potential links to Russian intelligence services.
A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry denied a comment on a possible replacement for Schönbohm on Monday. The spokesman emphasized that the ministry is taking the accusations against the cybersecurity chief very seriously, even as no formal decision had been announced.
A press conference planned to present the agency’s annual report in Berlin on Monday was cancelled at the last moment, along with the appearance of Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
The appointment of Schönbohm as BSI president in 2016 by then-Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière drew criticism at the time due to concerns about his preparedness and his perceived closeness to the arms industry, factors now resurfacing in contemporary scrutiny.
In 2019, a public television investigation by the German Cyber Security Council alleged that the company founded by Schönbohm in 2012 and led until 2016 had ties to Russian intelligence services. The report prompted renewed discussion about the scope of relationships with entities involved in the cybersecurity ecosystem.
Following the press revelations, it emerged that Schönbohm had distanced himself from the association—whose membership includes prominent German cybersecurity firms—but he attended the group’s anniversary celebrations in September of this year, signaling his continued engagement with the sector despite the controversy.
Even amid hints of connections to Moscow, there were media moments when the issue took center stage in public discourse. On October 8, comedian Jan Böhmermann featured the topic on his television program, ZDF Magazine Royale, noting that Protelion, a member company of the German Cyber Security Council, is reported to be a subsidiary of Russia’s Infotecs. The claim relates to Infotecs’ origin and the broader network of companies associated with the council.
It is noted that Infotecs’ founder has historical ties to the KGB, and the company’s accolades and relationships have sparked discussions about the roles these entities play in the German and European cybersecurity landscape, as highlighted by commentators and analysts in the public sphere.
According to Bild, the Interior Ministry is currently examining which member firms employ certain protective technologies and how these systems are integrated within national safety protocols, as part of ongoing inquiries into safeguarding measures across government and critical infrastructure.