Norwegian Defence Security Service (NORDSS)

Norweigan Defense Security Service (NORDSS), (in Norwegian:Forsvarets sikkerhetstjeneste, acronym: FOST) is a joint security and counterintelligence service within the Norwegian Armed Forces. It’s members is a mix of civilian employees and military personnel.

Role and responsibility:

NORDSS role is designated by the Chief of Defence Norwegian Armed Forces (CHODNOR) by the virtue of role as chief executive (as defined by the provisions in the protective security act) of the Norwegian Armed Force.

Its responsibilities are:

• Protect the Norwegian Armed Forces against security threats within the Armed Forces, and from threats stemming from terrorism, espionage and sabotage against the Armed Forces.

• Conduct background checks in order to determine if a security clearance can be given to military personnel who apply for access to classified information (vetting process).

• Act as Designated Security Authority in Norway within the “Request for visit” system. This both visits by foreign nationals to the Norwegian Armed Forces and Norwegian defense industry where it is exchanged classified information. And for visits to other countries by Norwegian citizens where it’s required governmental certification of a person’s level of security clearance.

NORDSS does this by collecting and assessing information regarding security risk and weaknesses within the Norwegian Armed Forces, in order to analyze and recommend which counter measures that must be taken.

Head of the service holds the military rank Colonel or Captain (Navy).

The current commanding officer of NORDSS is: Capt (N). Geir Gade - Royal Norwegian Navy.

Rule of law

Within a democratic and transparent system, the rule of law and regulating executive powers is fundamental. The Norwegian Constitution Article 99 forbids the use of military personnel and powers against the common citizen unless warranted by act of parliament or insurrection.

In Norway, it is only the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST), Norwegian Intelligence Service (ETJ) or the Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM), is defined as a “secret services” and given special powers and authority by separate act of parliament.

Since NORDSS is only an internal military security service, legal basis and executive powers within the Armed Forces is defined by:

a) The Norwegian parliament trough the common/general provisions of the Protective Security Act, The Defense Secrets Act, The Military Offence Act and the Military police powers act (only grants military police powers to NORDSS member who are commissioned officers).

b) Common law / Chain of command authority within the Armed Forces

c) International treaties/agreements concerning military security regulation trough Norway’s membership in NATO.

Oversight

As a result of lessons learned by surveillance scandals after the end of the Cold war. To prevent future breach of human rights and illegal surveillance NORDSS is placed under control of the Norwegian Parliamentary Intelligence Oversight Committee(EOS-committee) since its establishment in 2003. NORDSS was elevated to be one of the main inspection objects (the Norwegian secret services are the others) in 2009. In all of the EOS-committee's annual report to Stortinget (the Norwegian Parliament) all deviation from what the committee deems to be in good standards with the rule of law or human rights are exposed for and been correctly criticized. These reports are available for the public on the EOS committee website

NORDSS is also subject to the Norwegian National Security Authority supervisory authority.

The Minister of Defense is regularly briefed by CHODNOR on all of NORDSS activities.