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authorisations and to ensure that the overseas scope of any technical operations was clear.
Our inspections did not identify any concerns about GCHQ’s technical operations.
Consolidated Guidance
10.54
We reviewed a range of requests engaging the Consolidated Guidance which had been
made of GCHQ by foreign liaison services, to share GCHQ-produced intelligence with other
foreign liaison partners. We observed evidence that GCHQ carefully considered the risks
before granting permission for intelligence to be shared in such cases, including by referring
to relevant sources of evidence both on the compliance risks in the country concerned and
any assurances provided by the liaison service making the request.
10.55
The internal process in force at GCHQ, supplemented by additional considerations made
by policy and legal staff where required, is securing a high level of compliance with
the requirements of the Consolidated Guidance. The way in which GCHQ records its
considerations under the Consolidated Guidance provides a clear narrative of how the
decision to approve or reject a request was arrived at. We made no recommendations
relating to the Consolidated Guidance at GCHQ in 2019.