The Viking Snowden: Denmark spy chief 'relieved of duty' after whistleblower reveals illegal snooping on citizens
- Reference: 1598338991
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/08/25/denmark_domestic_spying/
- Source link:
In a [1]press release [PDF, in Danish] yesterday, the independent regulator of the Danish security services (Tilsynet med Efterretningstjenesterne or TET) said it had received information from a whistleblower in November that revealed the country's foreign intelligence service "had withheld key and crucial information," and given "incorrect information on matters relating to the collection of the service and disclosure of information."
The Danish government announced that head of the Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste (FE) service, Lars Findsen, as well as two senior officials that focused on military intelligence – and who were not named – had been "relieved of duty for the time being."
Sound familiar?
The TET states that the FE service has carried out "operational activities in violation of Danish law, including obtaining and passing on a significant amount of information about Danish citizens."
It also notes that "central parts of FE's acquisition capacities" contain "risks that unjustifiably can be obtained against Danish citizens" – suggesting some kind of mass surveillance capability or illegal data gathering. It also noted that "FE's management has failed to follow up on or further investigate indications of espionage within the area of the Ministry of Defense."
US lawmakers get a second shot at forcing FBI agents to obtain a warrant before they leaf through web histories [2]READ MORE
Faced with requests for information on the illegal activity, it appears that the FE and Findsen decided to brazen it out and claim they had no relevant documents. But then "one or more" whistleblowers provided the oversight body with some kind of proof of what was going on.
"The material is of such a nature that the Authority decided to focus its control of the FE in order to carry out an in-depth study of the present circumstances," the release states.
The TET clearly decided its authority and ability to oversee the intelligence services was at stake and notes that it sought, and received, repeat support from the Defense Minister in its investigation. The final report was delivered to him on Friday, the TET notes, and stretched to four volumes, with conclusions and recommendations.
"It is absolutely vital that we can have confidence that our intelligence services are acting within their powers," said Defense Minister Trine Bramsen on Monday, adding that the intelligence services must "work closely with control and supervisory bodies."
Reform
In its report, TET asks for the law that provides it with its oversight powers be reviewed and revised – presumably to make it harder for the intelligence agencies to hide such information in future.
And it argues for an expanded and strengthened whistleblower scheme. "Such a scheme should aim to improve the ability of current and former FE employees to comment on criticisable matters in the authority without fear of negative retaliation, including employment or criminal law consequences," it argued.
It wants the ability for whistleblowers to be able to share classified information and additional resources to be given to such a scheme to make sure it is viable.
Despite the enormity of the claims – that the intelligence service illegal spied on Danish citizens, then passed the information onto others and then lied about it to an independent oversight board – the TET warns that due to the "extremely sensitive" nature of the information, the public may never learn exactly what happened.
Despite arguing that "it is essential that the public gets as complete an insight into this as at all possible," it then immediately notes that given the "classified content thereof, the Authority may not provide further information to the public."
It's easy to see parallels between this situation and that of Edward Snowden, who worked for America's NSA spying agency. In that case, Snowden felt obliged to flee the country and make highly sensitive documents available to journalists in order to get the word of illegal surveillance of US citizens out.
Snowden is still a [3]wanted man and despite the spy programs he exposed later being ruled unconstitutional, no one within the NSA or related intelligence services was ever suspended – even after the US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper [4]lied in Congress about US domestic surveillance.
Clapper faced no penalty, retired on a full pension, and began a new career on the conference and TV chat show circuit. ®
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[1] https://www.tet.dk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PRESSEMEDDELELSE.pdf
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2020/05/26/us_fisa_spying/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/18/snowden_us_government_fees/
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwiUVUJmGjs&feature=youtu.be&t=396
[5] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
"In the Land of the Free, if he had contacted the Intelligence Oversight Committee, he would have been quietly disappeared, and his information not acted on."
In Yes Minister terms that sentence manages to combine two examples of getting rid of the difficult bit in the title.
She/her
> it sought, and received, repeat support from the Defense Minister in its investigation. The final report was delivered to him on Friday
The minister is a woman. So is the prime minister and several other ministers.
How far up the government did it go?
I would not be surprised if the PM's were aware of it. Plausible deniability if fairly powerful. Maybe the concept is that the spies only report issues after finding another way to verify the claims. The PM knows that something fishy went on but feigns ignorance.
When spellcheck goes wrong
"...then past the information onto others..."
Corruption,... again
This time it's moral corruption, but we seem to either be going through an epidemic of corruption, or else it's always been there but was ignored and tolerated. Every day I find myself more and more disappointed in just how base, corrupt, and despicable the human race is becoming. These days everything seems to be about appearance and how things look, rather than about ethics or empathy.
Re: Corruption,... again
"Every day I find myself more and more disappointed in just how base, corrupt, and despicable the human race is becoming ."
Hah! Fixed that for you.
Re: Corruption,... again
This time it's moral corruption, but we seem to either be going through an epidemic of corruption, or else it's always been there but was ignored and tolerated.
I think historically it has always been tolerated by the people with power, and covered up by the people writing about them.
Although it might not seem like it, the Internet means that we do now live in a golden age where investigative journalism thrives and very little can be covered up for very long.
Despite the depredations of Russian bot farms, left and right wing populists etc, and the debilitating inability of about half the population to spot the most transparently obvious of lies, outside China we are no longer in a situation where virtually all media reach is controlled either by a few very rich people or the government.
Re: Corruption,... again
It is true that there has recently been a tsunami of people abusing their power and status, and brazenly denying anything wrong even in the face of overwhelming proof (no, I'm not just thinking of the OHSG).
That being said, it is hardly new. ICANN has been trailblazing on that front for more than a decade now, and nothing appears to be stopping it. On the contrary, it has clearly spawned admirers (eh, Pai ?).
Re: Corruption,... again
It is a historical truth that, whenever you have power of any sort (no matter how small and insignificant), you will also have people who will willingly abuse that power in order to further their own agenda.
Hardly democratic ... but not unusual in dodgy business circles.
despite the spy programs he exposed later being ruled unconstitutional, no one within the NSA or related intelligence services was ever suspended - even after the US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper lied in Congress about US domestic surveillance.
Clapper faced no penalty, retired on a full pension, and began a new career on the conference and TV chat show circuit.
Some would venture that is atypical and typical of a rogue state and rogue agencies.
Re: Hardly democratic ... but not unusual in dodgy business circles.
it is quite typical of dumbuckingstan though
"no one within the NSA or related intelligence services was ever suspended - even after the US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper lied in Congress about US domestic surveillance. Clapper faced no penalty, retired on a full pension..."
This is the part i never understood. Usually politicians of any stripe once they catch some one in a lie, especially one directed at them, go for the jugular. Doesn't usually matter which side of the aisle they're from.
That Clapper got to walk away without so much as a dressing down, is scarcely believable. He must have had some great dirt on various Poli's...
>> "Despite the enormity of the claims - that the intelligence service illegal spied on Danish citizens, then past the information onto others"
Guys you didn't sack the sub-editors, did you?
Nope but I only work UK hours. News editors and regional editors try to double as subs at our other offices. There's a link at the bottom of articles for corrections.
So a whistle-blower leaks information which cant be covered up, is anyone surprised at the standing down? Its standard textbook procedure to stand down, let matters blow over then popup in some other cushy number, James Clapper is just one of many, but hey lets have our jingle jangled by the media, its so 1984.
Polticos are just doing what they are expected to do, but there will be drinks all round at the weekend country club, that's for sure. Surprised this hit the news really because all country's are at it, but I would be interested in who the whistle-blower is and why they leaked. Was it a native leaker or Johnny Foreigner? That could be more telling, when considering bigger pictures.
The paradox is this: how do you protect the country if you cant spy and monitor everyone?
Its like an unwritten rule that isnt explained to everyone because some people cant handle the truth to quote Jack Nicholson from the film A few good men.
Is it a case of proper forward-looking legislation and regulatory oversight?
No, can't be... Not in this day and age, surely?
It’s easy to see parallels between this situation and that of Edward Snowden,
However, the difference is, that Snowden knew that in America there was no truly independant oversight within government, and had to take the step of releasing information publicly to journalists to get anything to happen.
In the Land of the Free, if he had contacted the Intelligence Oversight Committee, he would have been quietly disappeared, and his information not acted on.