DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
(U) Write Right: Caveat Scrutator (Or, 'But I Saw It on the Internet!')
FROM:
of the Reporting Board (S12R)
Run Date: 07/27/2006
(U//FOUO) Once again we must don the mantle of old-fogeydom
and nip a new practice in the bud. SIGINT product reports have
been found in the ANCHORY data base that contain the phrase
"According to the Wikipedia web site..." in referencing unclassified
collateral*. Information-Sharing Services has sent out a policy
statement declaring that this is not a sufficient or appropriate
reference for supporting material, especially in this day of close
official scrutiny of our sources. Wikipedia should be a starting point
for research, not an end-point.
(S//SI) It is true that the HUMINT-like nature of many targets
(such as counterterrorism) and techniques (such as denial and
deception) makes the Internet a very valuable source of collateral
information. In these cases analysts will naturally include their
evaluation of the information in the text of the report, in a
Comment (see the May column ) - without that evaluation, the
information is much less useful to the customer and could be
misleading. Such a report would not use "According to the
Wikipedia web site..." without explanation.
(U//FOUO) The reports we noted above, however, used
straightforward, verifiable information that would have been readily
available from official government or research-institute sources,
such as "this [the date of a significant occurrence, which was the
subject of the report] is a local holiday in the Zendian province"
and "this chemical can be used in the manufacture of..." In such
cases, Wikipedia entries can tip a reporter to the existence of more
appropriate sources to cite.
(U//FOUO) We appreciate the enthusiasm of those analysts who
have taken to heart the push to use more open-source collateral,
but the guidelines of USSID CR1400 (old 300) still apply. Section
6.4 contains examples of acceptable unclassified collateral sources
and general guidance on use of unclassified collateral, and the
Advanced Intelligence Research Service (AIRS/S202A) library web
site has an excellent article on tips for evaluating a Worldwide Web
search. Another useful article appeared in the May 2006 issue of
The Worthwhile Web; we draw your attention to the paragraph on
"Questions of Validity and Reliability."
(U//FOUO) The nature of Wikipedia makes using the site itself as a
reference tantamount to saying, "I read it on the Internet" -- a
citation unlikely to be found acceptable the next time the
Legislative Affairs Office needs to brief Congressional committees
on our sources.
(U//FOUO) Thanks to intrepid researcher
of the AIRS
library for the correct Latin for "Let the researcher beware" (Caveat
scrutator)!
*(U//FOUO) Note:
SERIES:
(U) Write Right '06
1. Write Right : Grab
Bag
2. Write Right :
Frequently Asked
Question: Where Do
I Go for Help With
USSID SP0018
Issues?
3. Write Right : The
Style Manual vs.
USSID 300 -- er,
USSID CR1400
4. Write Right : The
Paperless Society
5. Write Right : Is That
Collateral, or Is It a
Comment?
6. Write Right : What's
a URS Center?
7. Write Right : Caveat
Scrutator (Or, 'But I
Saw It on the
Internet!')
8. Write Right : Seven
Things Not To Do in a
SIGINT Report
9. Write Right :
Breaking an Old
Reporter's Heart
10. Write Right : Where
Does It Say I Can't?
11. Write Right : Urban
Myths of SIGINT: 'I
Can Just Mark It
ORCON'
12. Write Right : Loaded
Words: Don't
Politicize Reports
Unclassified collateral is non-SIGINT information intended to
support, enhance, or refute the SIGINT facts.
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108