The probe did however judge that the agency did not correctly interpret sections of the law on information secrecy, and obtained some information illegally, the defense ministry said on Monday.
An investigation was opened at the start of this year regarding information gathered by the FIS’s cyber division between 2015 and 2020, concerning possible cyber-attacks in the country.
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Swiss secret service worried about Russian cyber operations
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The Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) is worried that Russia could use Swiss servers in its campaigns to destabilise western democracies.
While gathering data about potentially malicious actors – including directly from internet providers – the FIS neglected to get the required authorisation of a federal court. The practice was stopped as soon as the FIS was alerted to the problem in 2020.
Ex-federal judge Niklaus Oberholzer, who led the administrative inquiry, said on Monday that while the practice did not amount to criminal activity, it did amount to a bad interpretation of the legal situation, in that the FIS did not properly consider certain provisions of the law on information secrecy.
The final report into the affair was classified as secret. However, the defense ministry published an overview of the main results, as well as an extract of the recommendations proposed for the FIS, hereExternal link.
The classified findings have been sent to the relevant parliamentary committee as well as the watchdog which oversees the secret services.
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Switzerland to give millions to three UN organisations
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Switzerland is supporting Unicef, UN Women and the UN Population Fund this year with a total of CHF39 million ($47 million).
Electricity reserves still needed in Switzerland in midterm
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Switzerland's energy supply remains uncertain. Electricity reserves are still needed in the medium term, the Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom) said.
ICRC says next few days will be ‘decisive’ for aid to Gaza
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The next few days will be absolutely decisive if the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to continue providing aid in the Gaza Strip, said its director-general Pierre Krähenbühl.
Switzerland unveils a national drought-detection system
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Switzerland launched on Thursday a new national system for detecting drought and warning the population and authorities in advance.
Federal coffers to get CHF100 million boost from Swiss Post
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Swiss Post will pay a dividend of CHF100 million ($121 million) to the Confederation this year, the company announced on Thursday.
Swiss Federal Railways satisfied with bodycams for transport police
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Zurich cantonal government to compensate victims of forced labour
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Risk of a real-estate bubble in Switzerland grew in first quarter
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The risk of a bubble in the Swiss property market increased slightly in the first three months of the year compared with the previous quarter, says UBS.
French authorities order Nestlé to remove its filtration system
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Authorities in the south of France have served formal notice to Nestlé Waters, a subsidiary of the Swiss food giant, to "withdraw within two months" its microfiltration system for its Perrier mineral water.
Switzerland says pushbacks at border by Germany are unlawful
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Switzerland considers Germany's planned systematic pushbacks at the border to be contrary to existing law, the department of justice has said.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
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Media investigation targets activities of Swiss intelligence services
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Switzerland’s secret service is facing renewed criticism due to its data collection practices concerning political parties and NGOs.
NGOs oppose extension of Swiss secret service powers
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Swiss secret agents should not be given additional powers to monitor terrorists, say NGOs, trade unions and left-leaning political groups.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.