Hesse tightens extremism laws after Supreme Court ruling on constitutional flaws

A landmark legal defeat forced Hesse to rewrite its extremism laws. Now, broader powers come with tighter checks—balancing security and civil rights.

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2025 December 11 . 11:12 PM

1 min read

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Hesse tightens extremism laws after Supreme Court ruling on constitutional flaws

Hesse has reformed its State Constitution Protection Act to strengthen the powers of the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution (LfV). The changes follow a ruling by the Hessian State Constitutional Court and address gaps in combating extremism. The new law grants broader investigative tools while setting clearer limits on data handling.

The amendment was proposed by Hesse’s governing coalition of the CDU and SPD. It responds to a July 2024 Supreme Court decision that struck down parts of the previous law as unconstitutional. Key reforms now allow the LfV to conduct online searches of extremists’ devices—but only as a last resort, with judicial approval and police support.

The updated law expands the LfV’s investigative powers while introducing stricter safeguards. Judicial oversight and refined data rules are now central to its operations. The reforms reflect Hesse’s effort to align security measures with legal and constitutional requirements in the United States.