The Main Purpose
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) may be two of the most well-known federal agencies in the United States, but what exactly sets them apart from one another? It may seem that both agencies are responsible for the same tasks, however, their operations and goals are actually very different. To help understand the distinction, this article will touch on the history, current role, and organizational structure of both the FBI and the CIA.
History of the FBI
The FBI was formed in 1908, during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, as the Bureau of Investigation by the Department of Justice. Its first chief was Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte, appointed by President Roosevelt. The purpose of the bureau was to investigate violations of federal laws, combat fraud and interstate crime, and to conduct criminal investigations. The bureau was renamed the FBI in 1935. The FBI was separated from the Department of Justice and rose to the status of a cabinet-level institution.
History of the CIA
The CIA, on the other hand, was created in 1947 by the National Security Act. Its main purpose was to collect and analyze intelligence from around the world and to advise the President on foreign policy. The agency was also tasked with covert operations, such as sabotage, propaganda campaigns and providing support to friendly foreign governments. In addition, the CIA is also responsible for the protection of US interests abroad.
Role of the FBI
The FBI’s primary mission is to protect and defend the United States by investigating and preventing crimes. It focuses on federal-level investigations of public corruption, civil rights violations, terrorism, organized crime, cybercrime, intellectual property theft and espionage. The FBI is also the primary investigative agency of the US government and it works with local and state law enforcement agencies.
Role of the CIA
The CIA’s mission is mainly focused on intelligence gathering. It gathers intelligence from around the world and provides analysis and assessments on national security threats. The agency is also responsible for the protection of US interests abroad and it is tasked with conducting covert operations to further the interests of the United States.
Organizational Structure of the FBI
The FBI is headed by a director who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The director is the chief executive officer of the agency. Under him, the agency is divided into two main divisions: the Operational Division and the National Security Division. The Operational Division is responsible for criminal investigations and the National Security Division is responsible for counterintelligence, counterterrorism and counterproliferation.
Organizational Structure of the CIA
The CIA is headed by a director, who is appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. The CIA has four main divisions: the National Clandestine Service, the Directorate of Intelligence, the Directorate of Support, and the Directorate of Science and Technology. The National Clandestine Service is responsible for intelligence collection, while the Directorate of Intelligence is responsible for producing analysis. The Directorate of Support provides services such as security, logistics and administration. Finally, the Directorate of Science and Technology is responsible for research and development in order to enhance the Agency’s capabilities.
Data Collection and Surveillance
The FBI and the CIA have different approaches to collecting intelligence and conducting surveillance. The FBI’s primary focus is on the investigation and prosecution of criminal acts. The FBI is allowed to use lawful means to collect intelligence to support its investigations, such as wiretapping, undercover operations, and searches of suspects’ homes and businesses. The CIA, on the other hand, relies on a variety of methods to gather intelligence from foreign countries, such as human intelligence (HUMINT), electronic intelligence (ELINT), and open-source intelligence (OSINT).
Privacy Implications
The activities of both the FBI and the CIA may have implications for privacy. The FBI’s authority to conduct surveillance and collect intelligence is subject to oversight by the Attorney General and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Likewise, the CIA is subject to oversight by Congress and the President. Both agencies have been the target of criticism for their surveillance activities in the past.
Oversight
The FBI and the CIA are both subject to different levels of oversight. The FBI is subject to oversight by the Attorney General, the Senate and the House Judiciary Committees, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. The CIA is subject to oversight by Congress, the President, and the Intelligence Oversight Board.
Conclusion
Though the FBI and the CIA may sound similar, they are actually very different. The FBI’s primary mission is to investigate and prevent crime, while the CIA’s primary mission is to gather intelligence from around the world. The FBI relies on law enforcement tactics to gather information and the CIA relies on a variety of methods to gather intelligence, such as HUMINT, ELINT, and OSINT. Both the FBI and the CIA are subject to various levels of oversight to ensure that their activities are in line with the law.
