Intelligence agency
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| + | An '''intelligence agency''' is a [[government agency]] responsible for the collection, analysis or exploitation of information and intelligence in support of [[law enforcement]], [[national security]], [[Defence (military)|defence]] and [[foreign policy]] objectives. Means of information gathering are both overt and covert and may include [[espionage]], [[signals intelligence|communication interception]], [[cryptanalysis]], cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public sources. The assembly and propagation of this information is known as [[intelligence analysis]] or [[intelligence assessment]]. | ||
| - | The '''Ministry for State Security''' (German: ''Ministerium für Staatssicherheit'', MfS), commonly known as the '''Stasi''', literally State Security), was the official state security service of the [[East Germany|German Democratic Republic]] or GDR, colloquially known as East Germany. It has been described as one of the most effective and repressive [[Intelligence agency|intelligence]] and [[secret police]] agencies in the world. | + | Intelligence agencies can provide the following services for their national governments. |
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| + | * Provision of analysis in areas relevant to [[national security]]; | ||
| + | * give early warning of impending crises; | ||
| + | * serve national and international [[crisis management]] by helping to discern the intentions of current or potential opponents; | ||
| + | * inform national [[Military operation plan|defence planning]] and [[military operation]]s; | ||
| + | * protect sensitive information secrets, both of their own sources and activities, and those of other state agencies; | ||
| + | * may act covertly to influence the outcome of events in favour of [[national interest]]s, or influence [[international security]]; and | ||
| + | * Defence against the efforts of other national intelligence agencies ([[counter-intelligence]]). | ||
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| + | There is a distinction between "security intelligence" and "foreign intelligence". Security intelligence pertains to domestic threats (e.g. terrorism, espionage). Foreign intelligence involves information collection relating to the political, or economic activities of foreign states. | ||
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| + | Some agencies have been involved in [[assassination]], [[arms trafficking]], [[coup d'état|coups d'état]], and the placement of misinformation ([[propaganda]]) as well as other covert operations, in order to support their own or their governments' interests. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | *[[Verfassungsschutz]] | + | * [[List of intelligence agencies]] |
| - | *[[Mass surveillance]] | + | * [[List of defunct intelligence agencies]] |
| - | *[[Stasiland]] | + | * [[List of intelligence gathering disciplines]] |
| - | *[[Felix Dzerzhinsky Watch Regiment]] | + | |
| - | *[[Stasi 2.0]] | + | |
| - | *[[BFC Dynamo]] | + | |
| - | *[[Werner Teske]] | + | |
| - | *[[Telephone tapping in the Eastern Bloc]] | + | |
| - | *[[Eastern Bloc politics]] | + | |
| - | * [[Industrial espionage|Economic and industrial espionage]] | + | |
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Revision as of 07:35, 24 May 2013
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An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collection, analysis or exploitation of information and intelligence in support of law enforcement, national security, defence and foreign policy objectives. Means of information gathering are both overt and covert and may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public sources. The assembly and propagation of this information is known as intelligence analysis or intelligence assessment.
Intelligence agencies can provide the following services for their national governments.
- Provision of analysis in areas relevant to national security;
- give early warning of impending crises;
- serve national and international crisis management by helping to discern the intentions of current or potential opponents;
- inform national defence planning and military operations;
- protect sensitive information secrets, both of their own sources and activities, and those of other state agencies;
- may act covertly to influence the outcome of events in favour of national interests, or influence international security; and
- Defence against the efforts of other national intelligence agencies (counter-intelligence).
There is a distinction between "security intelligence" and "foreign intelligence". Security intelligence pertains to domestic threats (e.g. terrorism, espionage). Foreign intelligence involves information collection relating to the political, or economic activities of foreign states.
Some agencies have been involved in assassination, arms trafficking, coups d'état, and the placement of misinformation (propaganda) as well as other covert operations, in order to support their own or their governments' interests.
See also
- List of intelligence agencies
- List of defunct intelligence agencies
- List of intelligence gathering disciplines
