Intelligence service

An intelligence service is a government agency dedicated to obtaining information on the basis of national security. There are private intelligence companies that work with the secret services or intelligence services of different countries as well as with companies or individuals who request their services.

Collaboration

There are usually occasions when two or more agents from different intelligence services and stationed abroad exchange or complement information.

Places of action

• In the national territory.
• In foreign territory to cover actions in this territory.
• In foreign territory to cover actions in a country from a third country.

Duplicity of functions

There are cases of countries that maintain various intelligence services, one for each branch of the armed forces or for areas of duplication of functions and the versions may coincide, have certain differences, or be diametrically opposed.

Similarities and differences between diplomacy and intelligence services

• They look like in the following cases:
  • Both obtain information of a lawful nature and official sources.
  • The information is obtained lawfully by the diplomat and comes from the various public divisions of the receiving State.
  • The military or defence attache obtains it from military source in official form.

• Different in the following cases:
  • Diplomacy obtains information through exclusively lawful means and acts in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961).
  • The diplomat negotiates with the receiving State or with a company to achieve technology transfer. Negotiate to formalize an official agreement in that regard.
  • In certain countries, local intelligence officers monitor foreign diplomats accredited to the country where they perform official duties. This action is accentuated when the level of diplomatic relations becomes critical or worrying.

Information contrast

The flow of strictly secret information ends up in the hands of the head of state for decision making. Sometimes, before reaching this level, the foreign ministry of their own country is usually informed in order to request information on a certain topic and complement information, after which, said information is refined, or it is treated within the Council of Ministers, if it involves several sectors of state interest or the importance is such that it warrants it, or it is reached directly to the Head of State for his knowledge and consequent purposes.

Representations in other countries

The headquarters of the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (SUPO) in Helsinki, Finland.

It is the case that in certain countries there is such freedom or lax legislation on the matter, which is the preferred place to centralize actions in certain groups of countries.

This is the case in Sweden, where most of the world's leading intelligence services have a regional center of activity, in this case, Europe. The activity is such that members of the intelligence services generally know each other and share information. In other words, they know exactly who to turn to in certain circumstances.

Intelligence services by country

Africa

Egypt

• General Directorate of IntelligenceAl-Mukhabarat al-'Ammah)
• Office of State Security Investigation (Mabahith al-Amn al-Dawla'Ulya)

Morocco

• General Directorate of Studies and Documentation (DGED)
• Military Intelligence Directorate (DRM)
• General Directorate of National Security (DGSN)
• Territory Monitoring Directorate (DST)

America

Argentina

• Federal Intelligence Agency (AFI)
• National Directorate of Military Strategic Intelligence (DNIEM)
• National Directorate of Criminal Intelligence (DNIC)

Bolivia

• Plurinational State Intelligence Directorate (DIDEP)
• State Intelligence Service (National Council)
• National Intelligence Directorate (Ministry of Government)
• General Staff Intelligence Department II (Ministry of Defence)

Brazil

• Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN)

Canada

• Canadian Intelligence and Security Service (CSIS/SCRS)

Chili

• National Intelligence Agency (ANI)

Columbia

• National Intelligence Directorate (DNI)
• Police Intelligence Directorate (DIPOL)
• Financial Information and Analysis Unit (UIAF)
• Department of Military Intelligence and Counterintelligence (CEDE2)
• Navy Naval Intelligence Headquarters (JINAV)
• Head of Space and Cyberspace Air Intelligence (JIAEC)
• Joint Intelligence and Counterintelligence Department (CGDJ2)
• Dissolved:
  • Administrative Department of Safety and Security (DAS)
  • Colombian Intelligence Service (SIC)

Costa Rica

• Intelligence and Security Directorate (DIS)

Cuba

• Intelligence Directorate (G2) (former Intelligence Directorate, DGI)
• Military Intelligence Directorate (SIM)
• State Security Department (DSE)

Ecuador

• Strategic Intelligence Centre
• Army Intelligence Service
• Navy Intelligence Service
• Air Force Intelligence Service
• Police Intelligence Service

El Salvador

• State Intelligence Agency (OIE)

United States

• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
• Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
• National Security Agency (NSA)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• United States Secret Service (USSS)
• Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS)
• Air Force Special Investigations Office (AFOSI)
• Coast Guard Research Service (CGIS)
• United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIC)
• Diplomatic Security Service (DSS)
• Dissolved:
  • United States Information Agency (USIA)

Guatemala

• State Strategic Intelligence Secretariat (SIE)
• General Staff Intelligence Directorate (D2)
• General Directorate of Civil Intelligence (DIGICI)

Honduras

• National Directorate of Research and Intelligence (DNII)
• Police Intelligence Directorate (DIPOL)

Mexico

• National Intelligence Centre (CNI)
• Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC)
• Federal Ministerial Police Intelligence Division (PFM)

Panama

• National Security and Defence Council
• National Police Intelligence Directorate
• Aeronaval National Service Intelligence Directorate
• National Border Service Intelligence Directorate

Paraguayan

• National Intelligence Secretariat (SNI)

Peru

• National Intelligence Directorate (DINI)
• Army Intelligence Service (SIE)
• National Police Intelligence Directorate (DIRIN)

Dominican Republic

• National Investigation Department (DNI)
• Joint Staff Intelligence Directorate (J2)
• National Army Intelligence Directorate (G2)
• Air Force Intelligence Directorate (A2)
• Naval Intelligence Division (M2)

Uruguay

• State Intelligence and Contraspionage Service

Venezuelan

• Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN)
• General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM)

Asian

Saudi Arabia

• General Presidency of Intelligence (Ri'āsat Al-Istikhbārāt Al-1'Àmah)

Bangladesh

• General Directorate of Intelligence Forces (DGFI)

Chinese

• Ministry of State Security (MSS)
• General Staff Intelligence Office

South Korea

• National Intelligence Service (NIS)

Philippines

• National Intelligence Coordination Agency (NICA)
• National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
• Philippine Armed Forces Intelligence Service (ISAFP)
• Philippine National Police Intelligence Group (PNP-IG)
• Customs Office Intelligence Group (BOC-IG)

Indian

• National Research Agency (NIA)
• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
• Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)

Israel

• Mosad (external intelligence)
• Shin Bet (internal intelligence)
• Directory of Military Intelligence

Pakistan

• Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)
• General Directory of Military Intelligence (MI)
• Intelligence Office (IB)

Singapore

• Department of Internal Security (DSI)
• Intelligence Division (SID)

Syria

• Military Intelligence Directorate (Shu'bat al-Mukhabarat al-'Askariyya)

Taiwan (Republic of China)

• National Security Office (NSB)

Turkey

• National Intelligence OrganizationMilli İstihbarat Teşkilatı)

Europe

Germany

• Federal Intelligence ServiceBundesnachrichtendienst(BND)
• Federal Office for the Protection of the ConstitutionBundesamt für Verfassungsschutz(BfV)
• Federal Criminal Investigation Office (FFIC)Bundeskriminalamt, BKA)
• Military Counterintelligence AgencyMilitärischer Abschirmdienst, MAD)
• Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre (GTAZ)

Austria

• Federal Criminal Investigation Office (FFIC)Bundeskriminalamt, BK)
• Federal Office for the Protection of the ConstitutionBundesamt für Verfassungsschutz und TerrorismusbekämpfungBVT)
• Foreign Military Intelligence ServiceHeerenachrichtenamt(HNaA)

Belgium

• State Security Service (Staatsveiligheid / Sûreté de l'État)

Czech Republic

• Security Information ServiceBezpečnostní informační služba, BIS)
• Office for Foreign Affairs and Information (Úřad pro Zahraniční styky un Informace, ÚZSI)
• Military Intelligence OfficeVojenské zpravodajství, VZ)

Denmark

• Security and Intelligence ServicePolitiets Efterretningstjeneste, PET)
• Defence Intelligence Service (Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste, FE)

Slovakia

• Information Service (Slovenská informačná službaSIS
• Military Intelligence Service (Vojenská spravodajská služba, VSS)

Spain

• National Intelligence Centre (CNI)
• General Information Police (CGI)
• Chief of Information (SIGC) of the Guardia Civil
• Armed Forces Intelligence Centre (CIFAS)
• Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Intelligence Centre (CITCO)

Finland

• Security Intelligence Service (Suojelupoliisi, SuPo / Supo)

France

• General Directorate of Foreign Security (Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure, DGSE)
• General Directorate of Internal SecurityDirection générale de la Sécurité intérieureDGSI)

Greece

• National Intelligence Service (Ethnikí Ypiresía PliroforiónEYP)

Ireland

• National Monitoring Unit (NSU) of the Garda
• Army Intelligence (G2)

Italy

• Information and Homeland Security Agency (AISI)
• Information and Security Agency (AISE)

Norway

• Norwegian Intelligence Service (Norwegian Intelligence Service)Etterretningstjenesten)

Netherlands

• General Intelligence and Security ServiceAlgemene Inlichtingen-en VeiligheidsdienstAIVD)
• Internal and Military Intelligence ServiceMilitaire Inlichtingen-en Veiligheidsdienst, MIVD)
• National Counter-Terrorism UnitNationaal Coordinator TerrorismebestrijdingNCTB)
• Public Information and Public Prosecution ServiceFiscale Inlichtingen-en Opsporingsdienst, FOID-ECD)

Poland

• Intelligence Agency (Agencja Wywiadu AW)
• Internal Security Agency (IASA)Agencja Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego, ABW)
• Military Intelligence Service (Służba Wywiadu Wojskowego, SWW)
• Military Counter-intelligence ServiceSłużba Kontrwywiadu WojskowegoSKW)

United Kingdom

• Secret Intelligence Service (SIS / MI6)
• Security Service (MI5)
• Government Communications HeadquartersGovernment Communications Headquarters, GCHQ)

Russia

• Federal Security ServiceFederálnaya Sluzhba BezopasnostiFSB)
• Principal Intelligence Directory (Glávnoye Razvédyvatelnoye Upravlenie Genshtaba, GRU)
• Foreign Intelligence ServiceSluzhba Vneshney Razvedki, SVR)
• Dissolved:
  • KGB (of the former Soviet Union)

Sweden

• Intelligence Office (Underrättelsekontoret, UNDK)

Ukraine

• Central Intelligence of the Directorate (Holovne Upravlinnya Rozvidky, HUR)
• Security Service of Ukraine (Sluzhba Bezpeky Ukrayiny, SBU)
• Foreign Intelligence ServiceSluzhba Zovnishnioyi ozvidky Ukrayiny, SZR / SZRU)

European Union

• EU INTCEN

Oceania

Australia

• Serivio Secreto de Intelligence (ASIS)
• Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO)

New Zealand

• Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS)
• Government Communications Security Office (GCSB)