Blogs as a Source For Strategic Intelligence

Some blogs are whimsical and deal with “soft” subjects. Others, though, are cutting edge in delivering information and opinion.

As a result, some analysts say U.S. intelligence and law enforcement

officials might be starting to track blogs for important bits of

information. This interest is a sign of how far Web media such as blogs

have come in reshaping the data-collection habits of intelligence

professionals and others, even with the knowledge that the accuracy of

what’s reported in some blogs is questionable.

Still, a panel of folks who work in the U.S. intelligence field – some

of them spies or former spies – discussed this month at a conference in

Washington the idea of tracking blogs.

“News and intelligence is about listening with a critical ear, and

blogs are just another conversation to listen to and evaluate. They

also are closer to (some situations) and may serve as early alerts,”

said Jock Gill, a former adviser on Internet media to President Clinton

(news – web sites), in a later phone interview, after he spoke on the

panel.