Better Technology Equals Better Counterterrorism

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AGENCIES UPGRADE INVESTIGATIVE TECHNOLOGY by Jim Kouri, CPP In addressing today's terrorists, intelligence operatives, and criminals, computers and electronic media have become the evidentiary equivalent of yesterdays paper files. Moreover, the potential sources of audio, video, and image evidence continue to expand as technologies advance and as adversaries make wider use of them. Video cameras and other audio and imaging technologies, such as solid-state recording devices, voice mail systems, Internet audio, digital cameras, and flatbed scanners, are becoming commonplace throughout the world. The electronic surveillance (ELSUR) of criminals, and of foreign powers and terrorists, has proven to be one of the most effective tools of the US Government. The FBI's emphasis on proactive and preventive counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and cyber activities requires technical collection and analysis activities that adapt from historically simple technology to a more complex systems approach, resulting in the development of new tools and the retraining of investigative, translation, intelligence, and technical personnel. In June, the FBI established the Investigative Technology Division in order to consolidate all responsibilities for technical investigative support and increase the emphasis on future investigative technologies. The FBI must enhance its collective capacity to expeditiously identify, understand, and take appropriate action to counteract crime problems and threats against the United States. In the furtherance of these efforts, the FBI will develop and implement tools that enable investigators and analysts to triage collected data, permitting them to crystallize actionable intelligence obtained from an ocean of collected information.In this regard, the Investigative Technology Division has developed and deployed a system to monitor, minimize, exploit and disseminate over the FBI's TRILOGY network the product of lawful ELSUR operations in a collaborative user environment. This initial capacity will be expanded through the development and implementation of an integrated capability that enables FBI users, as well as our partners in the Intelligence Community, to process, view, analyze, and disseminate all digital evidence collected pursuant to a lawfully authorized seizure or intercept order. Upon implementation, the Electronic Surveillance Data Management System (EDMS) will provide an enterprise web-based collection management and information retrieval capability for all FBI field offices. EDMS will automate the capability to prepare reports, locally conduct investigative analysis, and provide users with analytical tools for automated speaker identification, text key word spotting, voice key word spotting, and language identification.Keeping abreast of advancing technologies is critical to empower FBI employees in their duties and to thwart the technical capabilities of our adversaries. The anticipated growth in the number of Internet users, continued consumer demand for broadband technologies, and the mobility associated with wireless Local Area Networks (LANs) and Third Generation Wireless systems which converge voice communications and Internet access, requires constant vigilance by the FBI. The number of broadband households in the United States is growing at a rate of about 100 percent per year, from 6.2 million in 2000 to an estimated 34.7 million by the end of 2004. This higher bandwidth access increases by about 50 percent the volume of material looked at and, as a result, the volume of data intercepts and potential evidence also increases. Changes in cellular technology recently caused the Federal Communications Commission to announce plans to phase out all analog systems within three to five years. Also, the increasing emphasis on digital connectivity and electronic commerce has been a catalyst for the introduction of stronger, more user-friendly data protection (e.g., encryption technology) and destruction systems. While this is beneficial for legitimate users, others have taken advantage of this technology to conceal or destroy evidence. The FBI must expand its efforts to make critical technology leaps by aggressively exploring, developing, and delivering significant new, even “generation-skipping,” technologies, operational capabilities, tools, and services. These efforts include, but are not limited to, those pertaining to computer-based evidence; communications; facial recognition; audio, visual, and imaging forensics; tactical operations, and surveillance operations. Sources: US Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Counterterrorism and Security Professionals Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and crime magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer, Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores.