“information gathered and activities conducted to identify, deceive, exploit, disrupt, or protect against espionage, other intelligence activities, sabotage, or assassinations conducted for or on behalf of foreign powers, organizations, or persons, or their agents, or international terrorist organizations or activities.” – the United States government ( source) “Counterintelligence is traditionally understood to include operations designed to block, disrupt, or destroy the intelligence operations of an adversary.” – Jennifer Sims ( source) “information collected and analyzed, and activities undertaken, to protect a nation (including its own intelligence-related activities) against the actions of hostile intelligence services.” – Abram Shulsky and Gary Schmitt ( source) 1.1 Counterintelligence definedįor example, here are a few similar yet different definitions of CI: Because of this, the question of why counterintelligence is important correlates to how it is viewed. There is no universally agreed upon definition of counterintelligence – it has different meanings to different agencies and nations.

However, akin to the definition of intelligence, and the intelligence cycle – counterintelligence joins its relatives in traversing the strange thickets of conceptual debate. In fact, it is essential for the private intelligence sector as well, in the corners that lodge various forms of intelligence value, ranging from raw data and trade secrets, to defence contracts and the cyber infrastructure that houses them. Counterintelligence (CI) is an essential discipline and practice within the intelligence community and national security spheres.

Counter espionage ww2