The strategic communication of western Intelligence Services: protecting secrecy in transparent societies

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to identify and analyse the main strategies and methods of public communication used by Western intelligence services to adapt to the new framework of the society of transparency in the treatment of their activity and secrecy. The methodology consists of an exploratory study based on an analysis of the literature on the relations of intelligence services with the media during cases of massive leaks of secrets and the observation of their websites and profiles on social networks. The results show that intelligence services carry out various methods and techniques of strategic communication in a combined way: traditional, such as silence and biased leaks; novel, such as ambiguity in statements, institutional profiles on the Internet, and the public agenda setting and media framing through the use of experts and intelligence culture programs; and the adaptation of traditional covert information and influence operations to the new technological environment. All this in order to regain control of information over secrecy. As a way of conclusion there is a challenge to build a balance among national security, transparency and accountability, based on the trust provided by the social control of the activity of the intelligence services, as a complement to political, legislative and judicial controls.