PostedMay 19, 2022, 2:17 p.m.
The Federal Council has launched a consultation procedure with a view to revising the Federal Intelligence Act (LRens). It lasts until September 9, 2022.
During its meeting on May 18, the Federal Council launched the consultation procedure with a view to revising the Federal Intelligence Act (LRens). The highlights of the review are:
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The expansion of research measures subject to authorization in the field of activities relating to violent extremism;
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The complete reorganization of data storage at the Federal Intelligence Service (SRC);
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The transfer of the tasks of the independent monitoring body for radio exploration and exploration of the cable network (OCI) to the Supervisory Authority for Intelligence Activities (AS-Rens).
“With these adaptations, the Federal Council is reacting to the experiences made since the entry into force of the LRens as well as to the evolution of the threat in recent years. The war in Ukraine is one of them,” said Federal Councilor and Defense Minister Viola Amherd at a press conference on Thursday.
Verification of financial transactions
“The Federal Council notes that the risk of violent extremism has increased,” she continues. With the first point of the revision, he hopes that the research measures subject to authorization can now also be used “to detect serious threats resulting from activities relating to violent extremism; whether they are organizations or individuals who reject the foundations of democracy and the rule of law and who commit, encourage or condone acts of violence to achieve their goals”.
The revision will also allow the Federal Office of Police (FedPol) to “pronounce bans on traveling to a given country against people suspected of extremism”, adds Viola Amherd.
Another novelty will concern the possibility of verifying “financial transactions that can be used in particular to finance terrorism or spy networks”. Currently, the SRC cannot use intermediaries to obtain information on such funding. The revision of the LRens would allow the SRC “in the event of serious security threats in Switzerland to request details of financial flows or transactions”.
Strict conditions
The changes made by the revision of the LRens will be subject to strict conditions: “it requires both the approval of the Federal Administrative Court and the authorization of the head of the Department of Defense, Protection of the Population and sports (DDPS)”. The latter must first consult the head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) and the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). The consultation procedure lasts until September 9, 2022.
Also present at the press conference, Christian Dussey, the new head of the SRC, explained that “the threat of espionage, like that in the cybernetic field, has increased sharply in Switzerland in recent years”. If Russia has “not yet launched serious cyberattacks, the danger remains real”, he concluded.
(comm/aze)