according to a recent report on register manipulation from the National Interagency Analysis adn Intelligence Center (NTAES), public systems are vulnerable to abuse. Several of today’s control solutions are not good enough. This enables criminals to perpetrate fraud worth billions. NTAES has prepared a report on register manipulation at the request of the interagency labor crime collaboration, which consists of the Tax Governance, Nav, the Labor Inspection Authority, and the police.
– The current systems have certain vulnerabilities that allow information in the registers to be manipulated, facilitating the execution of fraud. The information in the report is important for registry owners so that they can implement measures to prevent this type of serious crime, says the head of the National Interagency Analysis and Intelligence Center, Ellen Kittelsbye.
Collaboration is crucial
In the report, NTAES has examined a number of important registers in public administration. They point out that the obligation for preventing register manipulation crosses various areas of expertise and believe that collaboration among the actors is essential for success. The report highlights four particular weaknesses that make the systems vulnerable to abuse.
User-friendliness takes precedence over everything when digital systems and administrative processes are streamlined, without having adequate control mechanisms.The simplifications also make it easier to commit crimes.
Lack of correction means that incorrect information is used as a basis for processing cases within the agency or by others. Correction of errors is often limited to the agency’s own systems and is not rectified in the registers used by other administrations.
– Manipulation of public registers is a serious threat to the welfare society and can undermine trust in the authorities. We take the results of the report seriously and have established an interagency group that will develop proposals for measures to reduce the risk of abuse, says Ole Johan Heir, director of Nav Control and joint spokesperson for the interagency labor crime collaboration.
Facts: National Interagency Analysis and Intelligence Center
NTAES is a collaboration between the police, Tax Administration, Nav, and the Labor Inspection Authority in the fight against economic crime, including labor market crime.
The products from NTAES are to serve as a basis for the agencies, both individually and together, to prioritize and coordinate measures to prevent, combat, uncover, and stop economic crime, including labor market crime.
Facts: Interagency labor Crime Collaboration
The interagency labor crime collaboration consists of participants from the Tax administration,NAV,the Labor Inspection Authority,and the police.
The collaboration works with the aim of preventing and combating labor market crime and to ensure equal competitive conditions in industries at risk for labor market crime.
Labor market crime includes actions that violate Norwegian laws regarding wage and working conditions, social security, taxes, and fees. Workers can be exploited, and the crime distorts competition and undermines social structure.
Labor market crime can involve violations of the Working Habitat Act, black economy, VAT fraud, social security fraud, illegal labor, and exploitation of vulnerable workers.
For questions about the content of the report,contact:
Ellen S. Kittelsbye, head of the National Interagency analysis and Intelligence Center (NTAES),
tel.: 992 07 795, [email protected]
For questions about the interagency labor crime collaboration, contact:
ole Johan Heir, head of the interagency steering group for the labor crime collaboration and NTAES in 2024
Nav, press duty: 400 03 144 (SMS is not answered) /
coordinator for the national communication network for the labor crime collaboration and NTAES in 2024: 918 20 377
For direct inquiries to the agencies, contact:
Nav, press duty: 400 03 144 (SMS is not answered)
Økokrim press phone: 23 29 10 30 or email; [email protected]
Labor Inspection Authority press duty: 400 31 788 / [email protected]
What are the main vulnerabilities identified in public management systems regarding register manipulation?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Ellen Kittelsbye, Head of the National Interagency Analysis and Intelligence Centre (NTAES)
Time.news Editor: welcome, Ellen Kittelsbye. Thank you for joining us today. Your recent report on register manipulation has brought to light some significant concerns regarding public systems.Can you start by summarizing the key findings of this report?
Ellen kittelsbye: Thank you for having me. Our report highlights alarming vulnerabilities in public administration systems that allow for register manipulation. These weaknesses can facilitate fraud that amounts to billions, which poses a threat not only to government integrity but also to public trust in essential democratic institutions.
Time.news Editor: That’s quite concerning. You mentioned that several current control solutions are inadequate. What specific vulnerabilities have you identified?
Ellen Kittelsbye: We identified four crucial weaknesses. First, user-friendliness frequently enough takes precedence over control mechanisms. While it’s understandable that systems need to be streamlined for efficiency, this simplification can inadvertently make it easier for criminals to exploit them.
second, there’s a significant lack of correction in the way errors are managed. When incorrect information gets recorded in a register, it can propagate through various agencies without proper rectification, leading to a cascade of misinformation.
Time.news editor: That highlights a significant systemic risk. In your discussions, you emphasize the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders. How vital do you believe cross-agency collaboration is to combat these threats?
Ellen Kittelsbye: Collaboration is absolutely essential. Fraud prevention requires a multifaceted approach, and it cannot be accomplished by a single agency alone. Our report has been developed at the request of a collaborative initiative involving the Tax governance, the Labor Inspection Authority, and the police, among others. By pooling resources and expertise, we can develop more robust systems that enhance security and build resilience against manipulation.
Time.news Editor: So, what practical steps can registry owners and public administrators take, based on your findings, to prevent register manipulation?
Ellen Kittelsbye: First, agencies need to invest in more stringent control mechanisms that accommodate both user-friendliness and security.This means designing systems that are accessible yet resilient to fraud.
Second, continuous training for staff that handles register information is crucial so they are vigilant about data accuracy and manipulation risks. Lastly, a regular audit and evaluation of these systems should be conducted to identify and rectify vulnerabilities as they arise.
Time.news Editor: It sounds like there’s a lot of work to be done.As we move forward, what message would you like to convey to the public about the importance of addressing register manipulation?
Ellen Kittelsbye: I would like to stress that the manipulation of public registers is a serious threat not only to our welfare society but also to the trust that citizens place in their government.It undermines the very fabric of our democratic system. It’s imperative that we all acknowledge these risks and work together as stakeholders in government, law enforcement, and the public to safeguard our institutions.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Ellen, for your insights and for shedding light on this critical issue. We hope to see progress in addressing these vulnerabilities.
Ellen Kittelsbye: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial we continue this conversation to encourage action against register manipulation.