Operating Methods and Authority
SOA's method of operating and authority are defined by the Security Intelligence System of the Republic of Croatia Act.
In accordance with the legal provisions, SOA gathers data of security or intelligence significance by using public sources, communication and contacts with citizens, by requesting official data from state authorities and local administrative authorities and legal persons, and by using covert measures and procedures, including covert data collection through technical means, and application of measures of concealing, and gathering of data through covert associates.
SOA officers are obliged to produce an official identity card or badge when officially interviewing a citizen.
A citizen may be interviewed within the official SOA facilities only upon their clear and explicit consent. Such interviews are audio recorded and, when possible, video recorded. Consent to an interview, and recording as well as the authenticity of the recording is confirmed by signing the transcript.
If a citizen does not consent to an interview with a SOA officer and if there is reasonable doubt that this citizen has information significant to national security, SOA shall request the Ministry of Interior, i.e., the police, to conduct an interview with the citizen in a manner that is specified by separate legislation. A SOA officer shall participate in this informative interview.
SOA also gathers data by using covert associates, i.e., Croatian or foreign citizens who voluntarily operate according to SOA instructions (so-called ''agents'').
SOA also gathers data by covertly gathering data by using technical means (telecommunications surveillance, listening devices and others). These measures are divided into those approved by the Supreme Court, and those approved by the Director of SOA.
SOA may take measures to conceal the ownership of objects or legal persons, to conceal the true identity of its employees and other individuals, to conceal the purpose of gathering data and, when necessary, may use the services of legal of physical persons, and reward them for the services.
Heads and employees of state bodies and bodies of the local (regional) self-government as well as legal persons with public authority are obliged to respond to the requests of the SOA officers in regards to the data which is available to them within their respective legally specified jurisdictions.
