Story perspectives

State-Backed Phishing Hits Bundestag Speaker’s Signal, Probe Launched

4/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Authorities suspect a state-backed actor behind the phishing attack that compromised Bundestag speaker Julia Kloeckner’s Signal account.
The messages pretended to be from Signal support, asked for login details, and prompted the Prosecutor’s Office to open an espionage probe.
Deputy speaker Andrea Lindholz said a Signal ban will not be imposed, but after the Interior Ministry warned a state actor orchestrated the campaign, restrictions on desktop version are being considered.

History

Historical Context

In December 2014 Fancy Bear launched a six-month spear-phishing campaign that crippled the German Bundestag in May 2015, stealing about 16 GB of data and prompting Chancellor Angela Merkel to order a €10 million security overhaul. The 2015 breach set a precedent for the recent suspected phishing of Speaker Julia Kloeckner’s Signal, which Deputy Speaker Andrea Lindholz now opposes banning.

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Story summary

Authorities suspect a state-backed actor behind the phishing attack that compromised Bundestag speaker Julia Kloeckner’s Signal account.
The messages pretended to be from Signal support, asked for login details, and prompted the Prosecutor’s Office to open an espionage probe.
Deputy speaker Andrea Lindholz said a Signal ban will not be imposed, but after the Interior Ministry warned a state actor orchestrated the campaign, restrictions on desktop version are being considered.

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