Annual report 2011 published: Threats to our national security are diverse
The General Intelligence and Security Service (Algemene Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst, AIVD) states that the threats and risks to the national security are diverse and have been developing more quickly and unpredictably and have a clear international dimension. As technology advances so does the need for the AIVD to invest in the reinforcement of its intelligence position, technological know-how and in closer collaboration with its strategic and other partners at home and abroad.
One of these strategic partners is the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD). In the past year the two services have presented many joint analyses, worked together on counter proliferation and have formed combined teams in a variety of domains to increase the effectiveness of intelligence activities, and also their efficiency.
Terrorism
Terrorism remains one of the AIVD's focal areas and a terrorist attack on Dutch soil is still a possibility to be taken seriously. In 2011 the AIVD invested in investigating persons planning to travel from the Netherlands to regions like Afghanistan and Somalia where they might be able to take part in the jihad. The number of such travel movements increased in 2011. The AIVD has disrupted several jihadist travel attempts. To this end, the service worked closely with and supplied information to a number of strategic partners.
Due to the international character of terrorism, freedom of movement (traveling) is essential to the existence and activities of terrorist networks. It is therefore imperative to use travel data of international movements to enhance the AIVD's information position. In 2011 the AIVD completed the technological and administrative preparations needed to be able to use travel data in its investigation of terrorists and other threats.
Under the auspices of the Border Management Innovation Programme (PVGM), a number of government agencies and private partners are working to improve the current process of border control. As one of the participants, the AIVD is making its contribution to safe and smooth travel.
Right-wing extremism
Right-wing extremism poses only a limited danger to the democratic legal order in the Netherlands. International developments in 2011, such as the attacks in Norway by Anders Breivik and the discovery of a possible extreme-right terrorist network in Germany, the National Socialist Underground (NSU), had little or no impact upon right-wing extremism in the Netherlands. Nonetheless, these events underline the need for continued vigilance when it comes to the potential violence of extreme-right ideology.
Espionage
Investigation by the AIVD has shown that foreign powers have been gathering sensitive political, military, technological, scientific and economic information in the Netherlands in 2011.
The role of digital resources in intelligence-gathering activities by foreign powers also continued to expand. As a country with a relatively extensive and high-quality electronic information and communications infrastructure, the Netherlands is a tempting target for digital "cyber attacks" so it heightens the need to stay alert and to take proper protective measures