. Information gathered and activities conducted to protect against espionage, other intelligence activities, sabotage, or assassinations conducted by or on behalf of foreign governments or elements thereof, foreign organizations, or foreign persons, or international terrorist activities. Also called CI. (JP 1-02) (Jt Pub 3-13)
What is counterintelligence?
The term Counterintelligence refers to information gathered and activities conducted to identify, deceive, exploit, disrupt, or protect against espionage, hostile intelligence activity, sabotage, assassination, or related threats. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.
What activities are included in counterintelligence?
In practice, Counterintelligence is applied to the technical or security purpose captured by its definition: information gathered and activities conducted to identify, deceive, exploit, disrupt, or protect against espionage, hostile intelligence activity, sabotage, assassination, or related threats. Organizations combine that function with documented procedures, authorized access, testing, monitoring, and controls appropriate to the system.
Why does counterintelligence matter to election security?
Understanding Counterintelligence matters because the concept can affect security, reliability, auditability, or trusted operation. In this glossary context, it refers to information gathered and activities conducted to identify, deceive, exploit, disrupt, or protect against espionage, hostile intelligence activity, sabotage, assassination, or related threats.
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. Information gathered and activities conducted to protect against espionage, other intelligence activities, sabotage, or assassinations conducted by or on behalf of foreign governments or elements thereof, foreign organizations, or foreign persons, or international terrorist activities. Also called CI. (JP 1-02) (Jt Pub 3-13)
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Counterintelligence. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 21, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/counterintelligence
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