We are most often asked... Does Slovakia really need a secret service? How can I become an SIS officer? How does one prove that he or she is an SIS officer? Are there any restrictions applying to an SIS officer in real life? What is the difference between an intelligence service and a counterintelligence service? Is the SIS authorized to summon, detain, bring a person to interrogation etc.? By whom is the SIS authorized to wiretap? Who can be tapped by the SIS? Does the SIS monitor the Internet? Who is an agent? Is an SIS officer authorised to carry a weapon? Who is responsible for the oversight of the SIS? Does Slovakia really need a secret service? The espionage is referred to as the second oldest craft. In the past, it was even labelled as an art to be performed only by the best of the best ones. Timely and high quality intelligence has always been and will always be of great value for the governing state agencies. Timely and accurate intelligence has often been decisive of the fate of states, nations, big wars or battles. Therefore, in order to ensure its security and to pursue its interests in foreign countries, each nation needs an organisation systematically acquiring, collecting and evaluating information on risks and facts with the potential to threaten these interests. The existence of intelligence services in democratic states is often questioned by part of public, particularly in peacetime. Intelligence services are accused of human rights abuses, encroachment on privacy, etc. Though it may seem a cliché, the past and the present, after September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, have proved that the protection of democracy's civilisation values continues to be of the highest importance. It has turned out that freedom, democracy and security cannot be taken for granted although being seen as such by the majority of people. Therefore, intelligence services are integral and one of the most important parts of security systems of all democratic nations. back <--- How can I become an SIS officer? Recruitment of potential officers of the Slovak Information Service is the job of specialized departments of the Service. The Service is interested in employing the best ones. Therefore, the applicant for the job should realize that he/she must meet very stringent criteria. During the application process, he/she will undergo a series of rigorous, especially psychological tests, including polygraphic examination. The lowest percentage of applicants, e. g., meets the conditions for the positions in the central analytics of the SIS. Slovak citizenship is basic and obvious condition to applicants. back <--- How does one prove that he or she is an SIS officer? An SIS officer does not indicate his/her membership in the Service in public. While performing his/her tasks, an SIS officer presents an SIS pass with a registration number and a verbal statement "Slovak Information Service”. back <--- Are there any restrictions applying to an SIS officer in real life? Under the Act, while performing his/her tasks an SIS officer cannot be member of any political party, he/she cannot be involved in entrepreneurial activities, cannot be a member of management or control bodies of legal entities engaged in business activities. All SIS officers are obligated to submit a property declaration every year. Other restrictions in real life originate from the nature of the work in the Service – an officer is not allowed to speak openly about his/her work in public nor at home. Strict security measures apply to workplace. These measures are aimed to protect the Service and its personnel. back <--- What is the difference between an intelligence service and a counterintelligence service? Nowdays, the terms "intelligence service” and "counterintelligence service” are not officially used, they are just an informal designation. The term "intelligence service” stands for foreign intelligence service, that is, it conducts operations in foreign countries, outside the Slovak territory. A counterintelligence service or a domestic intelligence, on the other hand, is restricted to gathering information on illegal activities on the territory of the Slovak Republic. back <--- Is the SIS authorized to summon, detain, bring a person to interrogation etc.? No, it is not. The SIS has not executive powers in the sphere of investigation (the SIS is not a law enforcement agency). The SIS's mission is to collect and evaluate information and provide assessments to relevant recipients defined by the law who on the grounds of it take adequate steps. back <--- By whom is the SIS authorized to wiretap? Who can be tapped by the SIS? Under the law the SIS is authorized to use the so called special techniques including wiretapping and intercepting of telecommunications. The conditions for their use are defined by the recently passed Protection against Wiretapping Act. The SIS is authorized to make use of special techniques only in cases where acquiring information by other means would be ineffective or very difficult. The special techniques cannot be used without previous written permission from a judge. Wiretapping is carried out only in the necessary extent. It is important to understand that the overall wiretapping of citizens is not the SIS's objective nor is it technically feasible. back <--- Does the SIS monitor the Internet? Yes, it does. In compliance with the law and its capacities it collects information on illegal activities on the Internet. For example, information concerning extremist and terrorist organizations' activities, organized crime groups activities, spread of child pornography and the like. back <--- Who is an agent? An agent is the most common tool used by intelligence services. It is a person acting on behalf of the Information Service (a natural person willingly and in covert manner collaborating with the Information Service in performing its tasks). back <--- Is an SIS officer authorised to carry a weapon? Yes, he is. However, it is a very sensitive question governed by a series of very strict rules. It would be naive to think that the SIS officers live the James Bond film scenes. The officers are authorized to carry a service weapon and use it only as permitted by the law, that is, for necessary protection or if it is not otherwise possible to repel a dangerous attack which poses a threat to protected premises, closed and guarded area, or a person under protection. back <--- Who is responsible for the oversight of the SIS? As for the external control, the National Council of the Slovak Republic has a special body – Special Oversight Committee for Overseeing SIS Activities– which is responsible for overseeing the intelligence service. The media and the public are an important tool of external oversight as well. Internal control within the SIS is carried out by individual levels of management, as well as by a special inspection body authorized to inspect all the areas of the SIS's activities. back <---