Communications intelligence, or COMINT, involves gathering information from various forms of communication, such as telephone calls, text messages, and online interactions. The aim is to analyze these signals for valuable insights that can provide a strategic advantage to the entity collecting the information. COMINT activities include intercepting and analyzing voice or text data, creating reports, and enabling decision-making based on the intelligence gathered.
COMINT differs from signals intelligence (SIGINT) and electronic intelligence (ELINT) in that it focuses specifically on speech and text signals from communications between individuals. While SIGINT encompasses a broader range of signals from electronic systems, and ELINT focuses on electronic signals unrelated to communication.
The use of COMINT by military organizations can help locate and disrupt hostile communications networks, as well as support search and rescue missions. However, concerns have been raised about the potential misuse of COMINT, as evidenced by the revelations made by Edward Snowden regarding mass surveillance on both foreign entities and private citizens.
Overall, COMINT plays a crucial role in intelligence-gathering efforts, providing valuable insights that can inform decision-making processes and enhance national security measures.