Practising parallel intelligence

The intelligence collection, once restricted to a selected number of individuals working for an official organisation or entity, has been transformed appreciably in last few years. It is now being shifted to the public domain at a rapid pace. A number of factors are responsible for it such as mass production of cheap digital devices, evolution of easily accessible cyber networks and a complex system of multi-dimensional social capital interaction. This intelligence shift is reshaping the intelligence collection mechanism, its means and methods, thus pushing the intelligence agencies for an immediate reformation. Hence many organisations are using parallel intelligence through outsourcing their functions to public at large.

The digital devices have made it easier for an ordinary person to record or live-stream audios and videos of a target without leaving any chance of being detected easily. It is the user-friendliness of cellular devices that has provided a deft hand to a layman to become an efficient intelligence operator. Likewise, social media platforms have provided dynamic avenues for public engagements. Old associations have been reenergised through these networks. People rediscover their past memories and re-bonding of old associations are also taking place almost everywhere. This has created a new wealth of information for the intelligence organisations. Many agencies are rapidly externalising their key functions to the individuals who can either penetrate or are part of these networks. These civilians, through social media networks, get top notch information, directly or indirectly, with a low possibility of being penalised for their actions.

The parallel intelligence system has three main components. The intelligence collection consists of a single or multiple individuals tasked with collecting intelligence from the target through direct and indirect contacts. This component operates in a dynamic way as the collectors may establish multiple links with the target to get the required intelligence. There is a strong possibility that collector of intelligence is absolutely unaware of his or her role and is pushed into the job through rejuvenation of old friendships, acquaintances or associations by multiple means. At times, the collectors are engaged by one of his or her direct or indirect contacts to provide an information about a target. Here the collector has full or partial knowledge about his or her role as an informer with or without direct connection with the middle tier receivers.

The intelligence reception comprises a string of individuals not in direct contact with its controller. They may share it in close flexible groups evolved on basis of commonality of past or present profession. The controller is the user of intelligence who decides how to use the information. Traditionally, an intelligence organisation is used to be a collector, composer, controller and disseminator of intelligence. However, with a massive shift of intelligence to public domain there is likelihood of emergence of private intelligence storehouses which are operated by individuals who sell intelligence for professional or personal purposes at provincial and national levels. Such a repository of intelligence may or may not be located inside the territorial jurisdiction of a country. The external intelligence cache is an effective source of creating social dissention, factual distortion and on-ground disruption in the country of its origin. These can also be used conveniently to pressurise institutions in a country to achieve selective objectives. New narratives can be developed easily on the basis of such intelligence which may augment or discredit an individual or an institution or target the socio-cultural fault lines of a country.

As the parallel intelligence encroaches upon the space of official intelligence agencies, the latter needs to recalibrate their options for operation. A lean structure is essentially important with strong tentacles in primary, secondary and tertiary social capital networks. The official intelligence agencies need to invest heavily in skillful persons who may be conveniently engaged indirectly in executing different tasks. It is high time for the intelligence agencies in developing world to transform themselves in accordance with evolving system of intelligence collection.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2021.

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