The Committee is responsible for continuous oversight of the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS), the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST), the Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM), and The Norwegian Defence Security Departement (FSA), collectively known as the "EOS services".

The Committee has a legal obligation to inspect The Army Intelligence Battalion and the Norwegian Special Operations Command annually.

The Committee also oversees authorities such as the Norwegian Civil Security Clearance Authority (SKM). Private companies that assist the intelligence and security services are also part of our oversight mandate.

Intelligence, surveillance and security service performed by, or under management of, public authorities are subject to the Committee's oversight.

The Norwegian Intelligence Service

The Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) is Norway's foreign intelligence service, and it is both a civilian and a military intelligence service.

The service's mission is to assist the Norwegian authorities and provide decision-makers with support in matters relating to foreign, security and defense policy.

The overall purpose of Norwegian foreign intelligence is to protect Norway's territorial integrity, citizens and important national interests.

The assignment involves collecting, processing and analysing information that is of importance to Norway and Norwegian interests, particularly information about hidden capacities and intentions.

As a foreign intelligence service, foreign states or foreign organizations and individuals are the main targets of the service's intelligence activities.

The tasks of the NIS are mandated in the Act on the Intelligence Service, chapter 3. This includes, among other things, collecting and analysing information on foreign affairs that can contribute to uncovering and countering

  • threats to Norway's independence and security, territorial integrity and political and economic freedom of action
  • serious threats to public security in Norway
  • serious threats to Norwegian interests abroad
  • foreign intelligence activity
  • foreign sabotage and influence operations
  • cross-border terrorism
  • proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and equipment and materiel that can be used to manufacture such weapons
  • international arms trade that could constitute a serious security threat
  • export of sanctioned, listed or sensitive goods and services.

The intelligence service shall also collect and analyse information on foreign matters which can contribute to  

  • safeguarding prioritised foreign, defence or security policy interests vis-à-vis matters and trends in other states and regions
  • national emergency preparedness planning
  • incident and crisis management
  • planning and conducting national or international military operations.

Additionally, the National Intelligence Service shall prepare, in case Norway is occupied, a system where it is ready to continue collecting and disseminating information to the Norwegian authorities.

NIS have a mandate to collaborate internationally with other intelligence services.

Read more on The NIS' webpage

The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST)

PST is Norway's national police security and intelligence service, and its responsibilities include collecting and analyzing information and implementing countermeasures against matters that threaten national security. The service is organized as a special police service parallel to the regular police, and the service reports directly to the Ministry of Justice.

PST's primary responsibility is to prevent and investigate crimes that may pose a danger to national security. The service has adopted various methods and procedures in its approach to this task. Key methods include gathering information on individuals and groups that may pose a threat, preparing various analyzes and threat assessments, investigating relevant matters, and other operative countermeasures, as well as offering general advice.

PST's main tasks and assignments are conferred by statute in Chapter IIIA of the Police Act.

Section 17a states that "The Police Security Service shall prepare analyses and intelligence assessments of conditions in Norway that may threaten Norway's sovereignty, territorial integrity, democratic form of government and other national security interests."

Section 17b of the Police Act states that the PST shall prevent and investigate

  • violations of the Penal Code, specifically Chapters 17 (Felonies against the independence and other national interests of Norway) and Section 184 (Disturbing the peace of a foreign state), and the Security Act,
  • unlawful intelligence activities,
  • the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the equipment, materials, and technology associated with the production or use of such weapons,
  • violations of provisions in or pursuant to the Act relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology, etc. and the Act relating to the Implementation of Mandatory Decisions by the Security Council of the United Nations, or other legislation relating to similar special actions, and
  • sabotage and politically motivated violence or coercion, or violations of Sections 131 - 136a, 145 and 146 (Terrorism and terrorism related acts) of the Penal Code.

Section 17c of the Police Act further states that PST's central unit shall

  • prepare threat assessments for use by political authorities,
  • collaborate with the police authorities and security and intelligence services of other nations,
  • and carry out vetting for use in security investigations.

Read more on PST's homepage

The National Security Authority (NSM)

The National Security Authority shall coordinate protective security measures and oversee the state of security in the types of activities that are subject to the Security Act. In addition to its role as the national security authority in accordance with the Security Act, the NSM is also responsible for a variety of other essential tasks.

In Norway, protective security work include all measures aimed to safeguard sensitive and classified information and objects from harmful activities, such as espionage, sabotage, and terrorist acts. In this context, information and objects that are significant for national security are regarded as sensitive.

NSM is the Norwegian expert authority on security clearance cases and appeal body on decisions regarding security clearance cases. NSM is responsible for a national warning system (VDI) that shall detect and issue warnings about cyber operations against digital infrastructure. NSM houses the Norwegian National Cyber Security Centre.

NSM also has the responsibility for producing an annual report on the state of security in Norway and has a duty to propose measures, make recommendations and put forward proposals for requirements within digital security.

NSM shall have overall responsibility for the following areas:

  • Value assessment
  • Security administration
  • Physical protection
  • Document security
  • Information system security
  • Communications security
  • Crypto security
  • Personnel security
  • Classified procurements
  • Internet security
  • IT security certification
  • Monitoring
  • Photographic and cartographic monitoring

Read more on the National Security's Authority web page

The Defence Security Department (FSA)

The FSA has an overall responsibility for preventive security service and operational security in the Armed Forces.

The FSA must ensure that activities in the Armed Forces are organised, carried out and audited in accordance with the requirements of the Security Act.

The FSA keeps track of the security risk picture surrounding the Norwegian Armed Forces, as well as Norwegian military activity both at home and abroad. The department is the clearance authority for the defence sector, except for the National Security Authority and the Norwegian Intelligence Service's employees. FSA is the largest clearance authority in Norway and processes more than 20,000 clearance cases annually.

In addition, the department has responsibility for security management, information security and infrastructure security.

The Civil Clearance Authority (SKM)

SKM was established in 2018 when many civilian clearance authorities were shut down in favour of one clearance authority which was to be responsible for the vast majority of clearance decisions outside the Norwegian Armed Forces and the EOS services.

SKM is a directorate and administrative body under the Ministry of Justice and Public Security which shall protect national values ​​by reducing the risk of insider threats.

The tasks of the Civil Clearance Authority include the following:

  • to process security and access clearance requests for over 10,000 people each year
  • to five advice and guidance to businesses' security work
  • to assist the Ministry of Justice and Public Security with various orders/tasks

The EOS committee inspects SKM annually.

Read more on the Civil Clearance Authoritys's web page

 

Read more about the Committee's area of oversight here.

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