Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV)
- Agency: Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV) - Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
- Creation Date: May 4, 1950
- Legal Basis: Law on the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BVerfSchG), Enacted into law on August 24, 1990
- Location of Headquarters: Cologne, Germany
- President: (2024) Thomas Haldenwang (Born: November 7, 1963)
- Number of Employees: (Classified) – estimated to be over 3,000
- Annual Budget: (Classified) – estimated to be over €300 million
- Website: www.verfassungsschutz.de
- Mission Statement: To safeguard the democratic and constitutional order of the Federal Republic of Germany by identifying and countering threats to its security.
- Guiding Principles: Legality; Objectivity; Transparency; and Confidentiality.
- Collection Types: HUMINT, Counterintelligence, and others
- Organization Type: Civilian
- Oversight Body: Parliamentary Control Panel (PKGr)
- Area of Operations: Domestic / National
- Brief History: The Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV) was founded on May 4, 1950, with the primary mandate of protecting the democratic order of the newly established Federal Republic of Germany. Its legal foundation was further defined with the Law on the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in 1990. The BfV has evolved to address various threats to the democratic system, including domestic extremism, terrorism, and espionage.
- Powers: The BfV is empowered to collect intelligence on activities and groups that pose a threat to the democratic order of Germany. Its focus is on domestic threats, and it operates under the legal framework provided by the BVerfSchG. The BfV is subject to oversight by the Parliamentary Control Panel (PKGr).
- Activities: The BfV engages in activities to monitor and counter extremist movements within Germany, including both right-wing and left-wing extremism. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in identifying and preventing terrorist activities on German soil, collaborating with other security agencies to address potential threats. The BfV is also responsible for counterintelligence efforts, working to safeguard against foreign intelligence activities within Germany and protect sensitive information and institutions.