Norway Proposes Enhanced Anti-Espionage Laws

• •Norway's government is tightening anti-espionage laws to address foreign intelligence threats.
• •The proposed laws would criminalize a wider range of espionage-related activities.
• •The Police Security Service (PST) will gain enhanced investigative powers under the new legislation.

On November 2, 2026, Norway's government proposed stricter anti-espionage laws to combat foreign intelligence activities. The amendments aim to criminalize a broader range of actions that could support foreign espionage, including the collection of both publicly available and non-public information if it threatens public interests. The Police Security Service (PST) would receive expanded powers to prevent, detect, and investigate violations of these new laws. Justice Minister Astri Aas-Hansen emphasized that the changes are necessary due to evolving intelligence-gathering methods by state actors. The proposed legislation also seeks to simplify the prosecution of individuals using false identities for foreign states. These measures reflect a growing concern over national security in the face of sophisticated espionage tactics.