Revision of the Intelligence Service Act: Federal Council strengthens early detection and defense against threats

The threat situation has become much more acute worldwide - including for Switzerland. Since 2020, the threats prioritized by the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) have multiplied. These include terrorism, violent extremism, espionage, cyberattacks, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and attacks on critical infrastructure.

The revision of the NDG is in line with the Federal Council's security policy strategy. In December 2025, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the strategy and instructed the departments to begin implementing it. With the revision, the Federal Council is also implementing requirements that Parliament and its committees have formulated since the introduction of the NDG in 2017.

The NDG revision consists of several parts. Firstly, the present basic package includes changes to the provisions on procurement measures, data retention and supervision. Secondly, an additional package will primarily include measures against cyber threats; the consultation on this is planned for mid-2026. Thirdly, the requirements for radio and cable reconnaissance resulting from a ruling by the Federal Administrative Court in November 2025 will be implemented. This will be done separately to enable careful integration into the NDG and to avoid delaying the current packages. If opportunities for accelerated implementation of the Federal Administrative Court's requirements arise in the course of the revision process, the FIS will make use of them accordingly.

This basic package provides for three key areas:

Early detection and combating serious threats

The FIS is tasked with identifying and preventing threats to internal or external security at an early stage. To ensure that it can also implement this mandate in the current heightened threat situation, the Federal Council is extending the mandate to the entire cyberspace and adapting the FIS's instruments.

In the case of serious threats posed by violent extremism, the same procurement measures requiring authorization (GEBM) should be able to be used in future as is currently the case with terrorism, for example. The FIS will now also be able to collect data from financial intermediaries (banks and other financial service providers) in the event of serious threats such as terrorist financing or espionage. In addition, the Federal Office of Police fedpol will also be able to impose exit restrictions on violent extremists.

The measures are directed against serious threats to Switzerland's internal or external security. All GEBMs are temporary and subject to strict requirements. The Federal Administrative Court must review and approve each measure. If it approves the measure, it also requires political approval from the head of the DDPS.

In response to criticism during the consultation process, the Federal Council has abandoned the proposal to allow the surveillance of persons with professional secrecy as third parties under certain restrictions - for example lawyers or doctors and their assistants.

Clarification of cable reconnaissance and strengthening of independent supervision

The purpose of cable reconnaissance is to monitor cross-border data traffic in order to identify events abroad that are of significance to security policy. It is clarified here that not only Swiss nationals but all residents of Switzerland are exempt from cable reconnaissance. This is already in line with current practice. Furthermore, the deadline for extensions of the reconnaissance orders is to be extended to six months, which takes into account the strategic nature of this procurement measure and relieves the Federal Administrative Court.

In return, independent supervision will be strengthened, in particular for radio and cable reconnaissance. The tasks of the former part-time supervisory authority for radio and cable reconnaissance (UKI) will be taken over by the full-time, independent supervisory authority for intelligence activities (AB-ND). This will bundle the supervisory competence in one authority. The AB-ND will also be given extended powers: It will now be able to cooperate with foreign supervisory authorities, inform cantonal authorities directly of its recommendations and apply directly to parliament for its budget.

Comprehensive new regulation of data processing and adjustments to data protection

The FIS's data processing will be regulated in a technology-neutral and comprehensive manner and adapted to the Data Protection Act, which comes into force in 2023. At the same time, the right to information will be simplified and also adapted to the new Data Protection Act. In addition, a legal remedy will be introduced that is not provided for in the current Intelligence Service Act, entitling the person requesting information to have the data processing concerning them and the postponement of information based on the Intelligence Service Act reviewed by the Federal Administrative Court.