Using the same issue you identified in Paper Number 1, provide three well-supported intelligence solutions that you think the intelligence community can or should employ to deal with the issue you identified in paper 1(you can look at Lowenthal’s chapter 7 or 8for methods, or come up with your own method). All the grade points will be in the logic and validity of the intelligence method you present to deal with the problem. (Paper 1 is attached for reference. with comments at the bottom.)

ANSWER

Intelligence Solutions to Technology as a National Security Issue

We live in a changing world with numerous uncertainties, especially with the advancing technologies. Technology not only changes our personal and working lives, but it also alters the national security landscape and environment seen through the rapid developments such as AI, increased unmanned and autonomous systems, digitalized infrastructures, disruptive technologies, and extensive networking through social media platforms, and disinformation. These advanced and emerging technological developments have provided comprehensive tools for use among states and non-state actors and have created current susceptibilities to attack by terrorists, changing threats, increased concerns regarding proliferation, facilitation of cybercrimes, and information theft in a country’s national security environment. This paper finds that the intelligence community can employ partnerships and unification of intelligence, integrate internal safeguards, and adopt regulatory oriented remedies to address and deal with technological risks.

Partnerships and unification of intelligence provide an integrated approach and collaborative culture among various organizations and agencies working concurrently with national security issues and priorities that leverages collective information sharing, comprehensive intelligence acquisition, maximized expertise, oversight, IT services, and capabilities. These partners include the US military, Foreign Intelligence, Security Services, Private Entities, Federal and State/Local departments, and their allies (NI). The unification of intelligence provides a platform and strengthens the diversity for increased information access and tools across a wide range of sources, which will enhance intelligence, action, and inform effective decision-making. This information and tools will address the risks associated with technological innovations creating a platform for machine learning and research to improve and develop newer automated forecasting and analytical methods. The increasing networking and social media platforms have been used to spread propaganda that causes political instabilities and easier targets of terrorist recruitment, incitement, and hacking (NI). With the broad access to information, tools, and resources necessary for machine learning, better forecasting and analytical methods can be developed to detect technological risks, which revolutionizes intelligence and informs better and effective decision-making processes.

In addition to integrated information sharing and collaborative culture, internal safeguards, as counterintelligence, tangible and intangible, can help maximize systems’ internal control and address technological risks that are foreseen and unforeseen, such as increased cyber-attacks crimes, hacking, and identity and information theft (Lowenthal). IC may not remain competitive without innovative methods of remaining current with the rapid and emerging technological changes and advancements. Therefore, internal safeguards that can be integrated to protect data, information protection, and maximize privacy include data management strategies for better organization, formats, innovative software, cyber counterintelligence toolkits, and technological infrastructure (Lowenthal). This will help protect the data and information from internal and external threats with increased security and modernized or customized responses.

Regulatory-oriented remedies can be integrated in addition to the innovation of secure technological products of effective data management and partnerships. It involves researching, analyzing, and devising formal regulations such as Agreements (bilateral and multilateral), Acts, and legal frameworks to maximize technological trustworthiness and protection (Kavanagh). Acts can be used to regulate cybersecurity, address proliferation concerns, and guide data management and security. Acts and Agreements establish the guiding framework of integrating and implementing diverse technologies that may influence national security as well as punitive and disciplinary actions associated with defiance and breach. Besides, regulatory-oriented and focused solutions will help prevent security flaws beforehand. The ratification by members and actors shows the allegiance to work with technology in agreed and accepted principles and values (Kavanagh). This remedy protects both tangible and intangible digital and technological infrastructure, mainly shaping and influencing the development of concrete and physical, technological infrastructure, and weapons, enhancing non-proliferation and combating offensive technological or cyber operations and activities between and among states and non-state actors in the international system.

These intelligence solutions, including employing partnerships and unification of intelligence, integrating internal safeguards, and adopting regulatory oriented remedies, will play a critical role in addressing technological risks.

Works Cited

Kavanagh, Camino. “New Tech, New Threats, and New Governance Challenges: An Opportunity to Craft Smarter Responses?” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace August 2019: 1-40. https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/08/28/new-tech-new-threats-and-new-governance-challenges-opportunity-to-craft-smarter-responses-pub-79736.

Lowenthal, Mark M. Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy. Intelligence & Security Academy, LLC, 2019.

2019. “The National Intelligence Strategy of the United States of America.” 2019. https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/National_Intelligence_Strategy_2019.pdf.