Historical Dictionary of United States Intelligence

each such operation was important to national security and submitted

this “finding” to the appropriate congressional committees. The

amendment was incorporated into Executive Order(EO) 12333 and

was later superceded by the Intelligence Authorization Act of 1991.

HUMAN INTELLIGENCE (HUMINT).Also known as espionage,

HUMINT is the collection of intelligence information from human

sources, such as spies, émigrés, and defectors. The Central Intelligence

Agency (CIA) is the principal entity in the intelligence community

(IC) engaging in HUMINT collection, although other organizations,

such as the Defense HUMINT Service (DH), also collect intelligence

using human sources. In addition, many consider diplomatic reporting

to be human source reporting, although it is normally not included in the

definition of HUMINT. See alsoTASK FORCE 157.

– I –

IMAGERY INTELLIGENCE (IMINT). Imagery intelligence is the use

and exploitation of images of target areas taken by platforms like satel-

lites, unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs), and manned spy airplanes,

such as the U-2. Prior to the development of digital imaging, the plat-

forms collected information by taking photographs, and so the disci-

pline was then known as photographic intelligence (PHOTINT).

INDIGO. See LACROSSE.

INDUSTRIAL ESPIONAGE.Industrial espionage is spying con-

ducted for commercial, not national security, purposes. Both govern-

ment and private organizations engage in such conduct. At its most

innocent, the term applies to such competitive intelligence activities

as examining corporate publications, websites, patent filings, and the

like to determine the activities of a firm. At the other extreme, it can

involve bribery, blackmail, technological surveillance, and even oc-

casional violence. Governments seek industrial secrets, for example,

to determine the terms of a government contract.

The United States government has steadfastly denied engaging

in industrial espionage. It has, however, acknowledged its role in

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