The espionage threat against Denmark and Danish interests has changed concurrently with the general development of the national and the international scene. The espionage activities of the Cold War era no longer take place in the same format. However, it is a fact that foreign intelligence services remain active in Denmark.

Generally, foreign intelligence activities are still being carried out in Denmark, although today such activities concentrate on gathering factual information rather than involving social subversive activities.

In this connection it should be noted that it is not illegal to gather publicly available information. On the other hand, if the activities take on the character of being conspiratorial, e.g. if the actual information gathering takes place clandestinely, it may be considered a foreign intelligence activity and thus involve violating the provisions of espionage in accordance with the Danish Penal Code.

In respect of Denmark, PET has noted an interest in gathering information on defence and security issues, Danish politics, financial as well as any general social issues. Another object of interest has been Denmark’s and other countries’ attitude to the EU and NATO, as well as issues concerning their expansion. Furthermore, scientific and technical information on research is gathered from institutions of higher education and universities, as well as research in the private sector.

Typically, foreign intelligence agents will stay in Denmark under the legal cover of business, education or research, etc. but diplomatic posts have also been used as cover. Consequently, PET is consulted on visa applications from certain countries allowing the Service to recommend to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the person in question be refused visa if that person is known to be an intelligence officer. There are actual examples of such cases.

With the exception of the Stasi-case in 2002 (concerning the customs officer who was in love), there has been no public case of espionage in Denmark since 1992, when a Danish citizen was found guilty of violating the provisions of espionage and a diplomat at an embassy was declared persona non grata in Denmark. PET has, however, often prevented cases from developing into serious espionage cases. The preventive measures, among other things, include a number of inquiries to companies, institutions and individuals assumed to pose a target for espionage or already being a target for espionage of a foreign intelligence service.

Denmark has also experienced so-called refugee-espionage where a foreign state gathers information on and possibly exerts pressure against the refugees from the country in question. There have been cases in which foreigners are forced into gathering information of value to their country of origin as well as cases where dissidents residing in Denmark have been monitored.