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Berlin (dpa) - The Bundestag has passed a second IT security law, which, among other things, is intended to protect important infrastructure such as mobile communications and energy networks.
One of the innovations is that the Federal Ministry of the Interior can prohibit the use of safety-relevant components if the manufacturer is controlled by the government of another country or has already been involved in dangerous activities.
Previously, the focus was on a trustworthiness declaration from the manufacturer itself.
In addition, the role of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), which is supposed to be more concerned with consumer cybersecurity, is being expanded.
There will be IT security labels so that consumers can find their way around better.
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The IT Security Act 2.0 is the result of a long discussion.
It was also held against the background of the question of whether the Chinese network supplier Huawei may participate in the expansion of the new 5G data network.
With the new version there is a broader legal basis to exclude Huawei.
The USA in particular accuse Huawei of close ties to the Chinese government and have imposed severe sanctions on the company, citing the risk of espionage and sabotage.
Huawei rejects the allegations.
"With the 5G network expansion, security issues are now of central importance," said the domestic policy spokesman for the CDU / CSU parliamentary group, Mathias Middelberg.
The responsible Union rapporteur Christoph Bernstiel emphasized that in addition to a technical review, there would also be a political review of the manufacturers.
However, it is not a “Lex Huawei” because the same requirements apply to everyone.
SPD rapporteur Sebastian Hartmann emphasized that Parliament provided clear criteria for this.
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At the same time, the Green network expert Konstantin von Notz accused the government of having done too little for IT security over the years - and is now "in the last corner of the legislature" with a draft that has been criticized by many experts.
The law was passed with the votes of the governing coalition.
The digital association Bitkom criticized the new security law as “a combination of technical certification machinery and political and regulatory discretion with questionable added value for IT security”.
The Federation of German Industries (BDI), on the other hand, welcomed the law.
It paves the way for the expansion of a secure 5G network in Germany.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210423-99-325158 / 2