Chatter (terrorist)
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Chatter is a term used in the United States "war on terror". Intelligence officials, not having better metrics, monitor the volume of the electronic communication, to or from suspected terrorists, to determine whether there is cause for alarm. They referred to the electronic communication as chatter.
Monitoring "chatter" is an example of traffic analysis a sub-field of signals intelligence. Intelligence specialists believe that they can learn significant information by methodically monitoring who and when suspects communicate. Even if they don't think they understand the real meaning of what suspected terrorists are saying to one another, they regard an increase in the number of the messages as a significant cause for alarm. Paradoxically, they also regard a decrease in the number of messages as a cause for alarm.
Some incidents, like the capture of the "Algerian Six", were triggered largely by an increase in "chatter".
[edit] References
- ↑ Plots, evidence and chatter put U.S. on alert, CNN, October 10, 2002
- ↑ http://fox-news.com/story/0,2933,53140,00.html Cheney: More Attacks 'Almost a Certainty'], Fox News, May 20, 2002
- ↑ Slowdown in 'chatter' worries officials: Drop in intercepted communication also noticed before 9/11, CNN, 08 06 2004
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