The Risks Involved in Using of Humint Personnel In The Dual Role of Collecting Intelligence and Performing of a Direct Action
Human intelligence, HUMINT, is one of the means of collecting intelligence. Technical means such as aerial and satellite photography, electronic warfare operations and various types of intercepts are used to collect foreign intelligence. HUMINT is important because it enables the state to identify potential attacks that may be targeted to it or its people. However, nothing good goes without potential risks. For this reason, this paper looks into the risks posed by using HUMINT in direct action and intelligence collection.
The use of HUMINT violates civil liberties in many way. First, granting HUMINT power to fight and prevent terrorism threaten civil liberties. Communication monitoring violates rights to privacy. Also, detaining and punishing suspects in military courts denies them fair trial in courts. Secondly, the Total Information Awareness (TIA) system database not only identifies potential criminals but also identifies millions of innocent citizens. Thirdly, civil liberties are violated by the secret review courts through granting broader authority for federal searches and seizures.
Fourth, civil liberties are violated when FBI intelligence-gathering powers are expanded. The increase the intelligence powers takes the nation back to the days when FBI routinely violated civil liberties. Besides, the FBI is mandated to collect information for all Americans whether or not they are engaging in illegal activities. Fifth, HUMINT gathering to prevent economic espionage in another way that violates civil liberties. The prohibition of theft of “trade secrets” as it is in the Economic Espionage Act restricts civil liberties. In the Act, federal law enforcement officers are allowed to use write-ups when investigating violations. As a result, those accused of economic espionage are denied free trial.
Finally, as much as HUMINT is mandated to detect and fight terrorism, many innocent citizens fall culprits because there privacy and rights to secrets are violated. Besides, there is no fair trial for the accused individuals making direct engagement of HUMINT in activities a risk activity.
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