Travel intelligence as a tool for counterintelligence and border security

Abstract

Counterintelligence and border security are two cornerstones of national security protection processes. They utilise intelligence sources and procedures extensively to assist in decision-making regarding countermeasures against high-degree threats and risks. Both employ intelligence cycle activities and risk analysis models to combine information coming from the operational environment. At the same time, travel intelligence (TRAVINT) consists of the intelligence product arising from the collection and analysis of a wide range of travel companies and data and information from governments. In the modern and increasingly globalised security environment, TRAVINT products constitute growing trend for protecting state border, intelligence, and internal security. The paper aims to explore the potential of leveraging TRAVINT for enhancing counterintelligence efforts and bolstering border security measures. The research methodology combines empirical analysis with a comprehensive review of the US and EU public documents and academic papers. This study is necessary, as it is essential to examine the worthiness of TRAVINT as an emerging intelligence sector. TRAVINT appears to be an extremely important data, information, and intelligence source offering the required material input to law, security, and intelligence enforcement agencies for analysis. TRAVINT and its parts, such as passenger name records (PNR) data, are used in compliance with state legislation in respect of human rights and in accordance with the needs of Intelligence networks, where excessive threats to internal and border security are implied.