The use of HUMINT in epidemics: a practical assessment

ABSTRACT

In this article we explore the potential applications for Human Intelligence (HUMINT) operations in Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEICs) and epidemics. We examine the complex circumstances surrounding outbreaks and how these require the synthesis and analysis of new sources of information and intelligence. We explore the benefits from these tactics by examining intelligence gaps and their consequences during the initial stages of the Ebola outbreak of 2014–2016. Finally, we look at what parameters and circumstances would be needed for the application of HUMINT operations in PHEICs and attempt to understand some of the constraints to its use.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Elbe, Security and Global Health, 50.

2. Elbe and Nakray, “Security and Global Health,” 1.

3. Rajagopalan, “China to send elite army unit.”

4. Benton, “Whose Security?,” 25–50.

5. Joint and Coalition Operational Analysis, “Operation United Assistance.”

6. Nguyen, “An Epidemic of Suspicion,” 1298–9.

7. CIA, hxxps://www.cia[.]gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2010-featured story-archive/intelligence-human intelligence[.]html.

8. See, for example Abilova and Novosseloff, “Demystifying Intelligence in UN Peace Operations”; and Dorn et al., Intelligence in peacekeeping.

9. Eriksson, “Intelligence in Peacekeeping Operations,” 1–18.

10. See, for example, Zook et al., “Volunteered Geographic Information and Crowdsourcing Disaster Relief,” 6–32.

11. Albro, Implications of the uses of Ethnography.

12. Sundnes, “Civilian-Military Cooperation,” 27–28.

13. Cline, “Operational Intelligence in Peace Enforcement,” 179–94.

14. See note 9 above.

15. Henwood, “Ebola in West Africa,” 15–29.

16. Joint and Coalition Operational Analysis, Operation United assistance.

17. Sack et al., “How Ebola Roared Back.”

18. Althaus, “Modeling the Ebola Epidemic,” 47–60.

19. See note 17 above.

20. Coltart et al., “The Ebola Outbreak, 2013–2016,” 372.

21. See note 9 above.

22. See, for example Aall, “NGOs, Conflict Management and Peacekeeping,” 121–41; Abiew, “NGO-Military Relations in Peace Operations,” 24–39; and Harris and Dombrowski, “Military Collaboration with Humanitarian Organizations in Complex Emergencies,” 155–78.

23. Bernard et al., “Intelligence and Global Health,” 509–14.

24. Legislation[.]gov.uk, “Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.”

Additional information

Funding

This publication is funded through the UK Research and Innovation GCRF RESEARCH FOR HEALTH IN CONFLICT (R4HC-MENA); developing capability, partnerships and research in the Middle and Near East (MENA) ES/P010962/1.

Notes on contributors

Rose Bernard

Rose Bernard is currently doctoral student at Kings College London examining intelligence sharing in epidemics and pandemics. She works in intelligence, specialising in the mapping of crime groups and cybercrime; prior to this she focused on counter-narcotics. Her most recent work has examined the integration of intelligence into PHEICs, and the impact of the internet on global health security.

Richard Sullivan

Richard Sullivan is Professor of Cancer & Global Health at Kings College London, Director, Institute of Cancer Policy and Co-Director of King’s Conflict & Health Research Group. Richard is past UK Director of the Council for Emerging National Security Affairs (CENSA) a national security think-tank where he specialised in bioweapons counter-proliferation. Richard qualified in medicine and trained in surgery (urology) gaining his PhD from University College London. He served for fifteen years in the British Army in intelligence and special operations (Reserves), Richard’s research interests in conflict and health include global health security, health systems strengthening in fragile and conflict settings, armed violence reduction as public health measure, intelligence, security and global health. Richard has worked both in DRC and West Africa during ebola outbreaks on health security issues. In global cancer control Richard’s group has led work on cancer control in fragile and conflict settings, particularly in respect to forced migration with R4HC-MENA programme (r4hc-mena.org)