Civilian domestic intelligence

The hostile intelligence services usually make efforts to establish contacts with the personnel of the considerable public institutions and organizations in order to gain information or gain an opportunity to influence the governmental decision-making, the political, financial-economical, or innovative processes. Therefore, it is one of the main tasks of the departments of the Constitution Protection Office dealing with counter-intelligence, to detect and prevent the efforts of the hostile intelligence agencies, and identify their background of logistics. Uncovering their tradecrafts is an essential national security interest, since only this way can the Constitution Protection Office ensure that Hungary shapes international, security, national, and economic policies of the country independently and free from outside influence.

The protection of the economic interests is one of the main pillars of national security. Therefore, it is also a priority for the Constitution Protection Office to act against the persons and efforts that may pose a risk to the economy and the functioning of the financial system. The Constitution Protection Office puts special emphasis on the protection of domestic budgetary funds and EU funds, the stability of the financial sector, the lawful operation of the capital market provider sector, and to support the fight against money laundering.

Migration towards the European Union has considerably intensified in the last decade. Even though Hungary still plays the role of a transit country, the number of third country citizens who wish to reside in our country for employment, study, or other purposes has been significantly growing year by year.

In order to detect the security risks and the misuse related to alien administration procedures, the Constitution Protection Office executes the national security checking of individuals applying for Hungarian citizenship, for residence and settlement permit, for visa or for the establishment of the stateless person status, and the recognition of their refugee status. As a result of that the Constitution Protection Office functions as an authority and – depending on the type of procedure – issues an official expertise and provides a national security risk assessment.

The activity of organizations threatening the constitutional order of Hungary generally violates the legal functioning of the administration and governmental institutions and may influence public administration, public safety, and the efficient operation of jurisdiction in a negative way. There are several examples when the hostile secret services use those organisations for their own purposes. In order to protect and safeguard the rule of law and the democratic system of Hungary the Constitution Protection Office detects and wards off surreptitious endeavours to alter or disturb the law and order of Hungary by illegitimate means.

The aim of the export control activity of the Constitution Protection Office is to detect and impede the uncontrolled spread of products and technologies, information, and skills needed for the production, manufacturing, and development of military equipment, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons of mass destruction and their carries.

In the course of that activity the Constitution Protection Office participates in monitoring the export to conflict zones, in detecting and impeding the non-peaceful utilizations, in uncovering the detours that aim to conceal the end-use, and the modus operandi.

The Constitution Protection Office performs the internal security and crime prevention check of organisations – except the national security services – operating under the management and supervision of the Government or members of the Government, in the course of which it may conduct integrity tests. The national security services – including the Constitution Protection Office – carry out the internal security and crime prevention check of their own respective personnel.

The Constitution Protection Office performs the integrity tests of the employees of governmental bodies, whose employment status stipulated by law.

The aim of the integrity test is to restrain corruption, reveal those who commit crime by abusing of administrative authority, seriously damaging public confidence and the respect for public service.

The integrity test is conducted by creating an artificial situation that may occur in real life, aiming to check whether the person concerned complies with his / her obligations stipulated by the regulations and whether meets the requirements of the lawful performance of his / her functions, free of influence.

The Director General of the Constitution Protection Office can order the integrity test; the test may be implemented by the consent of the Prosecutor maximum three times a year. Duration of the test is fifteen days that can be prolonged by the director general for another fifteen days. The person concerned should be notified about the end of test in fifteen working days.

If there is suspicion of crime, the Constitution Protection Office files a report and hands over all the acquired data; otherwise, all the data have to be destroyed in compliance with legal regulations.