Inefficiencies in the Swedish Security Service’s activities

The Swedish National Audit Office has examined the Swedish Security Service’s work on counter-espionage, counter-terrorism, counter-subversion and security protection. The audit also covers the Government’s management of the agency.

The Swedish National Audit Office’s overall conclusion is that there are inefficiencies in the Swedish Security Service’s activities and in the conditions afforded by the Government’s management.

“Among central government commitments, the Swedish Security Service’s efforts to protect the democratic system, citizens’ rights and freedoms and national security have a special status. It is of paramount importance for our country that these activities are effective,” says Deputy Auditor General Claudia Gardberg Morner.

Furthermore, the Swedish National Audit Office considers that the Government should request more information on how the activities are progressing.

The audit also shows that the Swedish Security Service needs to be able to process personal data in a more long-term perspective than is currently permitted – in part to make it possible to link different people who constitute a threat to Sweden. The Swedish Armed Forces and the National Defence Radio Establishment are other agencies that have such powers.

It is also important to permit the Swedish Security Service to use artificial intelligence to process large volumes of data.

There are inefficiencies in the Swedish Security Service’s internal management related to open information gathering and processing. There is a risk of responsibilities and powers becoming unclear.

The Swedish National Audit Office also notes that supervision of security-sensitive activities should be more focused on actual measures to maintain personnel security, physical security and information security.

“As it stands, supervision mostly covers the conditions for achieving security, such as security protection analysis and planning, rather than actual security protection measures,” says Per Dackenberg, Project Leader for the audit.

Footnote: This audit report is brief for reasons of confidentiality. However, the results of the audit have been communicated in full to the Government Offices and the Swedish Security Service.