Audit and oversight
The Security Information Service is supervised at two levels – external and internal. The external level is represented by oversight by the Government, which controls the Service, and by Czech Parliament. Internal audit is carried out through BIS internal mechanisms, including inter alia the Inspection (reporting directly to the Service Director) and the Department of Internal Security.
External oversight
Role of the Government
The Government has ultimate responsibility for the activities of all Czech intelligence services and their co-ordination. For this purpose, it sets up, by its resolution, the Council for Intelligence Activities, as its permanent advisory body charged with developing initiatives and dealing with issues concerning the management, co-ordination and audit of the intelligence sector and its co-operation with relevant government bodies.
Role of the Parliament
The task of parliamentary oversight can be summed up a making sure that BIS does not infringe upon civil rights and freedoms in the execution of its duties. For this purpose the Chamber of Deputies (lower house) creates a special oversight body composed of seven members.
Internal audit
The responsibility of internal audit is to preclude activities which are incompatible with the status and the operation of BIS, make sure that its security is not jeopardized, prevent abuse and leaks of information, expose breaches of internal regulations, and draw attention to potential shortcomings and mistakes made in the use of the material, technological and administrative background which the Service has at its disposal. An important role is played in this respect by the Inspection, reporting directly to BIS Director, and the Department of Internal Security.