Chatter (terrorist)
Encyclopedia
Chatter is an old term from signal intelligence, used more generally after the turn of the 21st century in the United States
"war on terror
". Intelligence
officials, not having better metrics, monitor the volume of communication, to or from suspected terrorists, to determine whether there is cause for alarm. They refer to the electronic communication as chatter.
Monitoring "chatter" is an example of traffic analysis
, a sub-field of signals intelligence. Intelligence specialists hope to learn significant information by methodically monitoring when and with whom suspects communicate.
Even if they cannot decrypt what suspects are saying to one another, a change of traffic may raise alarm, since a large increase may indicate increased preparation for action, while a sudden decrease may indicate the end of planning and the imminence of action. These considerations do not apply when the targets of analysis follow the military practice of maintaining a steady flow of encrypted communications whether they are needed or not.
Some events, including the capture of the "Algerian Six
", were triggered largely by an increase in "chatter".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
"war on terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
". Intelligence
Intelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
officials, not having better metrics, monitor the volume of communication, to or from suspected terrorists, to determine whether there is cause for alarm. They refer to the electronic communication as chatter.
Monitoring "chatter" is an example of traffic analysis
Traffic analysis
Traffic analysis is the process of intercepting and examining messages in order to deduce information from patterns in communication. It can be performed even when the messages are encrypted and cannot be decrypted. In general, the greater the number of messages observed, or even intercepted and...
, a sub-field of signals intelligence. Intelligence specialists hope to learn significant information by methodically monitoring when and with whom suspects communicate.
Even if they cannot decrypt what suspects are saying to one another, a change of traffic may raise alarm, since a large increase may indicate increased preparation for action, while a sudden decrease may indicate the end of planning and the imminence of action. These considerations do not apply when the targets of analysis follow the military practice of maintaining a steady flow of encrypted communications whether they are needed or not.
Some events, including the capture of the "Algerian Six
Algerian Six
The Algerian Six are six Muslim men who had been imprisoned without charges at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba since January 2002; five of them were ordered released after a long disputed habeas hearing before Judge Leon in the Federal District Court in Washington, D.C.; three...
", were triggered largely by an increase in "chatter".