The existing Espionage Act grants intelligence agencies the authority to implement measures aimed at neutralizing external risks, threats, and dangers. The current draft legislation seeks to refine this general competence, adapting it to the contemporary security landscape. A parliamentarian stated in a report that when an adversary not only collects information on Lithuania but also attempts to paralyze national systems, organize sabotage, or conduct cyber operations, the state must possess legal means to respond effectively.
According to the member, the role of intelligence should extend beyond mere monitoring of adversarial activities; it must also be capable of action. To facilitate this, the report proposes establishing a new “non-public impact operation” institution. This proposed body, the Seimas member noted, would only be authorized to conduct such operations when a specific and demonstrable threat to the nation’s security is present.
The legislation aims to provide a more targeted legal framework, ensuring that the state’s capacity to respond to complex, multifaceted threats remains robust while maintaining necessary oversight. The core focus is equipping intelligence agencies with the necessary legal tools to counter active threats in modern geopolitical conflicts.
Topics: #threat #intelligence #proposes
