Privacy protection in signal intelligence in defense intelligence activities
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns privacy protection in signal intelligence within defense intelligence activities. S considers signal intelligence to be a necessary part of Sweden's defense and protection against terrorism in order to preserve freedoms and map threats 1. S emphasizes that Sweden has good conditions and cutting-edge expertise in the area 1. M argues that a strong intelligence capability is a fundamental pillar in a secure society and that Sweden needs tools to handle threats from the cyber world and influence operations 2. M considers the current legislation to be well-balanced and that the legal oversight functions 2. MP emphasizes the importance of clear regulation for international cooperation and independent review to safeguard the open democratic society 3.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Markus Selin (S)
Mr. Speaker! Signal intelligence is about eavesdropping and signals, transmitters and systems. Signal intelligence, therefore, is about extracting information from electrical signals and capturing what is interesting in, for example, radio communications or signals that travel via cable and wire.
That is the kind of defense intelligence activity we carry out in Sweden in order to ultimately secure and support foreign, security, and defense policy.
We want to map out threats to the country. This is, of course, done to avoid setbacks and hostilities and, ultimately, to preserve our freedoms.
Signal intelligence is thus a necessary part of Sweden's defense and protection against terrorism. Sweden is an engineering nation. We can do this. We are a knowledge nation, and signal intelligence is about cutting-edge expertise. This is an important capability and resource, and we in Sweden have very good conditions in this area. Here we are far ahead, and we shall safeguard, develop, and nurture that, Mr. Speaker.
All this is also about a balance between personal privacy and Sweden's collective security. The Defence Intelligence Court reviews applications for permits for signal intelligence. Permits are applied for by the Defence Radio Establishment, FRA, on behalf of any of the following five actors: the government, the Government Offices, the Swedish Armed Forces, Säpo and/or the National Operations Department within the Police Authority, Noa.
In a permit, it must be clearly stated for which mission the signal intelligence is carried out, which signal carriers and search terms may be used, as well as the conditions needed to limit the specific intrusion into personal privacy.
The Swedish Defence Intelligence Inspectorate, Siun, is an agency under the government. It has the task of ensuring that defense intelligence activities are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations. Siun is also the supervisory authority for the activities conducted according to the Signal Intelligence Act. In the Signal Intelligence Act, specific search terms, destruction, and reporting shall be audited.
In accordance with the Signal Intelligence Act, there is also a privacy protection council at FRA which shall exercise oversight to ensure privacy protection. The privacy protection council is a part of FRA, and the council's members are appointed by the government. If there are grounds, the privacy protection council shall report observations to the agency's management and, if necessary, further to Siun.
The Riksdag already stipulated in 2008, among other things, that the government shall once a year report the review of the activities conducted according to the Act on Signal Intelligence in Defence Intelligence Activities. It is this that we are currently handling in this letter.
In recent years, Siun has conducted approximately 25 reviews annually, and we can note that none of these reviews have led to any specific observations or proposals.
In conclusion, I want to say that through FRA's work, Sweden gains unique knowledge about our world. Reliable intelligence about the world is important so that we can conduct an independent and credible foreign and security policy. In addition, there is also work to strengthen information security.
In today's cyber society, Sweden shall also in the future be able to offer high-quality support to authorities, state and private companies, associations and foundations that handle sensitive information. The security in our systems must be continuously increased.
Sweden has deep and long-standing expertise regarding signals intelligence, and our capabilities must be continuously developed. Swedish signals intelligence shall be at the forefront. We do this to preserve Sweden's sovereignty and our freedoms and to ensure a safer future. We Social Democrats support the proposal in the committee's report in its entirety and therefore move for the rejection of the reservation.
Gustaf Göthberg (M)
Mr. Speaker! Sweden is a free and open democracy, but we live in a time where the threats to our security have changed and are also continuously worsening. Our adversaries are no longer solely visible on the battlefield, but they now also operate in the shadows: in the cyber world, through influence operations, and by collecting information in a way that undermines Swedish sovereignty. It is against this background that we today debate the recurring letter regarding privacy protection in signal intelligence within defense intelligence activities.
Let me be clear: a strong intelligence service and a strong intelligence capability is a cornerstone of a secure, free, and democratic society. That we can identify threats early, prevent attacks, and protect our country from the malicious activities of foreign powers is absolutely crucial for our national security. At the same time, we must parallel to this ensure that this occurs in legally secure forms and with full respect for the individual's civil liberties and rights. It is extremely important.
We in the Moderaterna stand firm that Sweden needs an effective and purposeful intelligence operation. Given what my esteemed colleague Markus Selin from the Socialdemokraterna said in his speech, there is a broad consensus on this also in the Committee on Defence. It is important.
We must, from the Swedish side, be able to continue to expose and counter destabilizing activities, but we must never compromise on the rule of law that we are tasked to defend. We welcome the scrutiny carried out by the Swedish Defence Intelligence Inspectorate, an authority whose task is to ensure that the Defence Radio Establishment's activities are conducted in accordance with the law that this House has passed. Siun conducted a number of audits in 2023, in which no violations were noted. It is a testament that the system works.
Mr. Speaker! Sweden thus has one of Europe's most controlled intelligence operations, where every step is followed by legal and parliamentary oversight. There is no doubt that intelligence activity is a central part of Sweden's defense capability. We see on an ongoing basis how other democracies are subjected to influence operations, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns – not least from Russia, China, and Iran. It would be very irresponsible not to ensure politically and parliamentarily that Sweden has the tools required to handle these threats.
Even though we look out over the world and see a much more difficult, deepened and worsened global situation, I think it can be worth in this debate also to remind oneself of history. We have seen how a lack of intelligence capability leads to devastating consequences.
During the Cold War, there was a constant struggle for information, where the Western world was able to hold off the Soviet Union through a well-functioning intelligence service. We see on the battlefield in Ukraine how incredibly important and completely decisive an updated, skilled, and competent intelligence service – with the ability for signal intelligence as well – is. It is therefore incredibly important and completely decisive that we do not fall for naive notions that Sweden can stand outside of these conflicts. We must have an intelligence service that is equipped for the 21st century, where signal intelligence is an incredibly important part.
Mr. Speaker! The Moderates stand up for a strong defense and a strong intelligence operation. We consider that the legislation we have is well-balanced and that the legal oversight functions. We continue to work so that Sweden shall have a world-class intelligence capability – for we have – that can identify and combat threats in time but which at the same time safeguards the freedoms and rights that are the core of our democracy.
With this, I move for approval of the committee's proposal.
Emma Berginger (MP)
Mr. Speaker! The threats against Sweden and other democracies come from many different organizations and from states all over the world. This makes it important with cooperation between the Swedish authorities and authorities in other countries. I therefore want to emphasize the importance of us having a clear regulation for broad cooperation in these areas and that they should not in themselves be a threat to privacy and human rights.
Privacy protection in signal intelligence in defense intelligence activities
To initiate collaborations, it is important that there is an opportunity for independent review, even if the review itself probably must be carried out under secrecy.
International cooperation is important for combating terrorism. The starting point for Swedish intelligence activities must be to safeguard and protect the open democratic society, free freedom of expression, and Sweden's freedom and independence. It is crucial that Swedish intelligence activities are clearly regulated, delimited, effective, and purposeful in order to be able to expose and counter destabilizing activities from foreign powers and threats from terrorists.
The Government should work towards a purposeful intelligence activity in accordance with what I have stated. That is also what Miljöpartiet has written in its reservation in this matter, and I wish to move for its approval.
The deliberation was hereby concluded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.