The methods used by intelligence organisations in information gathering have in many ways changed in line with developments in recent years. But the recruitment of agents continues to be a main means of obtaining access to sensitive and extremely valuable information.
Technology, science, the economy and the environment are key targets for foreign intelligence activity. Additionally, political and military affairs continue to be high priority targets for intelligence services.
Gathering intelligence on political targets mainly relates to infiltrating the political or bureaucratic networks, either to gather information or to exert the desired influence on Norwegian politics. Different political players and participants in the political decision making processes can therefore be of interest to foreign intelligence services.
Intelligence is gathered in relation to a number of public bodies, ministries, political institutions, businesses, financial institutions, educational and research institutions as well as humanitarian organisations. The police, intelligence service and security service are also interesting targets for foreign intelligence gathering.
More than just classified material
Foreign intelligence services are not only interested in classified information. Unclassified information about the organisational structure, case management procedures, decision-making processes and strategic assessments can be just as useful for a foreign state. That the subject serves in interesting positions or has valuable networks can also be the reason why a foreign country’s security service directs its attention to an individual.
Advice and assistance to individuals at risk
If someone holds a post, an office or has a contact network that causes them to be of interest as the target of espionage, it can often be difficult to determine whether they are actually being or have been the subject of an espionage operation. An intelligence officer will usually proceed extremely cautiously and gradually, and take a long time to build a good relationship with a potential informant. The majority of people who are subject to such problematic approaches tend to experience an extremely smooth transition from natural questioning and signs of positive interest, to more intrusive questions and suggestions relating to the exchange of various types of services.
One of PST’s objectives in its counter intelligence work is to provide assistance to individuals subjected to espionage. A person who feels that they are subject to unusual levels of attention from an unexpected quarter, or who is in doubt as to whether a particular contact is seeking more information than they ought to require in the “normal” run of things, can contact PST to discuss these concerns. PST needs information that can contribute to uncovering illegal intelligence activity, and we can support and provide guidance to people who are subjected to such activity. It is important to determine as early as possible whether any suspicion is well founded, so that the damage can be minimised in a case in which an intelligence drive is in fact in progress. If it turns out to be a false alarm, this will still have the benefit of removing the anxiety and insecurity of the person who informed us of their concerns.
Anyone who wishes to discuss such concerns with PST can use the information at the right of this page to get in touch with us.