The Intelligence Ombudsman is tasked with supervising the legality of intelligence gathering methods and the use of intelligence, as well as the legality of other intelligence operations conducted by the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service and the military intelligence authorities.

The Ombudsman is also tasked with supervising the realization of fundamental and human rights in intelligence activities, promoting the realisation of legal protection and adherence to related best practices in intelligence activities, and monitoring and assessing the functionality of legislation in the Ombudman´s purview and proposing improvements when necessary.