Post and Telecommunications Surveillance Service PTSS

Welcome

Welcome to the homepage of PTSS, the Post and Telecommunications Surveillance Service. This website is aimed at Communication Service Providers (CSP), Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) as well as the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) for information, communication and exchange purposes.

The PTSS is responsible for ensuring the implementation of post and telecommunications surveillance measures. It acts independently and autonomously, and is not subject to directives.

Annual report 2022

The annual report offers a look back at the year 2022 and shows the collaboration of the PTSS service with telecommunications service providers and criminal authorities. Despite rapid technological changes, ensuring effective law enforcement always remains the first priority. The special case team of the PTSS service plays a central role in this and provides insights into its everyday work.

But how important is telecommunications surveillance for Switzerland's internal security? A senior public prosecutor from the canton of Zurich and the deputy director of the Federal Intelligence Service comment on this.

Statistics 2022

The PTSS carries out surveillance measures on behalf of the federal and cantonal prosecution authorities to investigate serious criminal offences. In 2022, the number of surveillance measures ordered has increased by 27 percent. This increase is mainly due to the strong rise in antenna searches.

Extranet

Entities obliged to cooperate (EOC) can use the extranet to communicate securely with PTSS, submit applications and supporting documents and transmit changes in their situation. In particular, a telecommunications service provider (TSP) can use this channel to submit a request for a downgrade to a TSP with reduced surveillance duties in accordance with Article 51 SPTO. PTSS then assesses the situation of the EOC and, if necessary, issues a decision on the EOC’s duties status (e.g. TSP with reduced surveillance duties). Furthermore, providers who are obliged to transmit their current contact data (Art. 5 OI-PTS), can communicate changes, such as new contact information for their LI officers, via the extranet.