The committee also oversees intelligence, surveillance and security services that are organized through other public bodies.
[2] The committee was established in 1996, following the findings and subsequent public debate related to the Lund Commission.
It had concluded that the Norwegian Police Security Service had been involved in extensive illegal political surveillance of left-winged organizations and individuals, in particular during the 1960s and 1970s.
The establishment of an oversight committee dealt with a political wish to control the EOS-services and to ensure to not repeat past illegalities.
The previous oversight committee had been appointed by the government, and did not have the mandate to oversee foreign intelligence activities.