Civilian intelligence protects Finland’s national security

Civilian intelligence legislation aims to protect Finnish society against serious threats to national security. Such threats include espionage by foreign states, terrorism, disruption of critical infrastructure or distribution of weapons of mass destruction. 

The powers conferred by the Act on the Use of Network Traffic Intelligence in Civilian Intelligence (Civilian Intelligence Act) are exercised in Finland by the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service, which gathers information to support decision-making by the state leadership. The Defence Forces collects information on targets of military intelligence under military intelligence legislation. Civilian and military intelligence authorities engage in close cooperation.

Reform of the Civilian Intelligence Act underway

The Ministry of the Interior is carrying out a legislative project to reform civilian intelligence legislation to meet the demands of the changed security and cyber environment. Intelligence legislation will be revised with respect to intelligence powers and the right of access to information and disclosure. For example, the intelligence powers of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service will be updated to keep pace with technological advances.

The aim is to amend the provisions on firewalls to enable the sufficient disclosure of intelligence gathered by the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service to the police and other public authorities that have the power to intervene concretely in activities that pose a serious threat to national security detected by the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service. Effective cooperation and exchange of information between the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service and other security authorities are essential to prevent threats to national security. 

Annual priorities set for civilian intelligence

The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for the guidance of civilian intelligence. Each year, the Ministry sets priorities for civilian intelligence that guide the activities of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service and that define the themes on which the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service gathers information and reports. 

These priorities are based on the information needs of the State’s foreign and security policy leadership. When preparing the priorities, the Ministry of the Interior and the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service hold extensive discussions with the State’s political leadership and senior officials to identify information needs. The priorities for civilian intelligence are not public information.

When defining the priorities, the effects of the operating environment on security and the changes that have taken place in the operating environment will be taken into account. If necessary, the priorities can be changed during the year if changes in the operating environment so require.

Finnish Security and Intelligence Service uses civilian intelligence powers

The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service is tasked with gathering information, in accordance with guidance from the Ministry of the Interior, to protect national security, as well as with identifying, detecting and preventing such operations, schemes and criminal offences that could threaten state or social order, or internal or external security. Civilian intelligence powers are only available to the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service.

The primary task of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service is to produce intelligence for the State’s leadership and other security authorities. In addition, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service provides wide-ranging services to other authorities, companies, organisations and members of the public. Intelligence enables the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service and other authorities to prevent activities that pose a threat to national security. The security environment in Finland is changing rapidly, and new threats require constant readiness and preparedness.

Use of intelligence collection methods requires authorisation

The use of intelligence collection methods is strictly regulated by law. Intelligence collection methods are used only to identify the most serious threats to national security. 

Civilian intelligence collection methods vary widely, with the choice of method adapted to the nature of the threat in question. Such methods include surveillance, telecommunications interception, traffic data monitoring or network traffic intelligence.

Depending on the method used, decisions on the use of civilian intelligence collection methods are made by a court, the Director of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service or the head of intelligence operations. In each case, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service must justify why the use of the method is essential. 

Rigorous oversight of intelligence activities

Intelligence activities are overseen by the Intelligence Ombudsman and Parliament’s Intelligence Oversight Committee. 

The Intelligence Ombudsman is responsible for overseeing the legality of civilian and military intelligence and the implementation of fundamental and human rights in intelligence activities. The Ombudsman is an autonomous and independent overseer of legality with right of access to all information gathered by the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service. 

The Intelligence Ombudsman publishes an annual report every year. 

The task of Parliament’s Intelligence Oversight Committee is to exercise parliamentary oversight of civilian and military intelligence. The Committee also exercises parliamentary oversight of other activities of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service.  

The Ministry of the Interior also oversees the activities of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service.  

Inquiries
Mirkka Kreus, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 295 484 600, [email protected]