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The Standing Committee I performs its reviewing role through investigations that it starts on its own initiative, on the request of the Senate, the Chamber of Representatives or the competent minister or authority, or on the request of a citizen or a civil servant who lodges a complaint or files a denunciation.
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The Committee is responsible for a posteriori control of the specific and exceptional intelligence collection methods used by the intelligence and security services. The Committee acts here as a judicial body.
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The Committee has the authority to stop certain ordinary methods that can be used by the intelligence and security services.
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The Committee gives written advice to the judicial authorities on the legality of the way in which information added to criminal proceedings was collected by the intelligence and security services.
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The Committee has another role in relation to it: on request it can advise on a Bill, draft Royal Decree, Circular Letters or any other document expressing the political orientations of the competent ministers regarding the functioning of the intelligence services or the Coordination Unit for Threat Assessment.
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The military intelligence service is authorized to intercept or record communications for military purposes sent to or abroad. The service can also make video recordings abroad and perform intrusions on IT systems. The Committee is responsible for monitoring these tasks.
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The Committee can be requested to carry out an investigation in the framework of a parliamentary enquiry.
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The Committee ensures the chairmanship and the registry of the Appeal body for security clearances, certificates, and advice.
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The Committee exercises, together with the Supervisory Body for Police Information Management (COC), control over the common databases established in the fight against terrorism (terrorist fighters and "hate propagandists"). Both bodies also provide their joint advice on the creation, modification and implementation of such databases.
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The Investigation Service of the Committee also plays a judicial role: when instructed by the judicial authorities, it investigates the members of the reviewed services who are suspected of having committed a felony or misdemeanor.
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The Committee has been appointed as the Competent Supervisory Authority. In this capacity, it ensures compliance with the rules on the protection of privacy of many services and individuals who process data in the context of "national security".