Surveillance & Intelligence Flashcards
7 cards from real FBI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Surveillance & Intelligence flashcards as text
What does 'source validation' mean in the context of human intelligence (HUMINT)?
Answer: Assessing the reliability and credibility of information provided by a human source
Source validation evaluates both the source's access to the information and their track record of accuracy to determine how much weight to give their reporting.
An FBI agent receives intelligence from a foreign liaison partner. The agent should treat this information as:
Answer: Potentially biased or incomplete and requiring independent corroboration
Foreign liaison intelligence may reflect the partner's national interests, collection biases, or gaps, requiring independent verification before acting on it.
In surveillance log entries, why is precise time notation critical?
Answer: It establishes a legal chain of events that can withstand court scrutiny
Precise timestamps in surveillance logs create an evidentiary timeline that establishes probable cause and can be used to corroborate or challenge witness accounts in court.
Which of the following best describes 'link analysis' as an intelligence tool?
Answer: Mapping relationships between individuals, organizations, and events to identify networks
Link analysis visually maps connections between people, places, and events to reveal organizational structures and communication patterns within criminal or terrorist networks.
A surveillance team discovers that a target meets regularly with a previously unknown associate. The appropriate immediate action is to:
Answer: Document the meeting, attempt to identify the associate, and report to case agents
New associates should be documented and identified through investigative means while the case agent determines the appropriate next steps within the investigation's scope.
What is the purpose of a 'surveillance detection route' (SDR)?
Answer: A route deliberately walked or driven to identify any surveillance coverage on oneself
An SDR is designed with chokepoints, observation opportunities, and route changes that force surveillance to expose themselves while the person conducting it checks for coverage.
Under FBI policy, when must a confidential human source (CHS) be formally registered?
Answer: Before any substantive intelligence exchange or tasking occurs
FBI policy requires CHS registration before any substantive contact to ensure proper vetting, oversight, and legal authorization for the source relationship.