Ethics & Intelligence 2006

Participation in Working Groups

Goals of Working Groups

The first goal of the Working Groups as a whole is to survey the ethical issues in intelligence. For this reason members are sought among all ranks and fields of intelligence, all relevant disciplines of study, and all legitimate stakeholders in intelligence ethics.

Working Groups are invited to

describe ethical issues in their area of focus;
provide case histories or examples;
identify and assess ethical norms already in practice; and
assess the appropriateness and feasibility of developing further ethical principles.

As time permits, Working Groups may also

propose ethical principles in their area of focus;
suggest consensus building, legalization, monitoring, or enforcement processes; and
consider national and international factors.

Following the conference, chairpersons and secretaries/recorders of Working Groups will submit (non-attributional) reports of their findings to the Working Groups Moderator. The Moderator will compile the reports for the use of all conference participants and supporters. The resulting compilation of ethical issues in intelligence can provide a comprehensive foundation for theories and principles of intelligence ethics, reconnaissance for a professional code of ethics, a resource for educational materials in intelligence ethics, and a guide for creation of an international intelligence ethics association.

Joining a Working Group

After registering for the conference, you may enroll (on a first-come, first-served basis) in one of a number of single-issue Working Groups. Each Working Group listed below will be limited to no more than 10 participants, absent special circumstances. The Moderator will seek to provide each Working Group with a chairperson and a secretary/recorder. When enrolling in a Working Group, please indicate your willingness to serve as a chairperson or secretary/recorder.

To discuss possible participation, contact the Working Groups Moderator, Ray Micklewright, at Raymond.Micklewright@anser.org.

Potential Working Groups

Foundational principles for ethics of intelligence

ethical principles
inter-national and multi-cultural principles
legal principles
philosophical principles
religious principles

Ethical guidelines for intelligence agencies in engagement

with other national security agencies
with government contractors
with the press
with scientific researchers
with human rights monitors and NGOs

Codes of ethics

for intelligence collection
for intelligence operations
for intelligence analysis
for dissemination of intelligence
for domestic surveillance

Educational programs in intelligence ethics

for national security personnel
for the public

Organizational development

of an international association for intelligence ethics
of the Intelligence & Ethics 2007 meeting
of a journal for intelligence ethics

Pre-conference on-line forums for Working Groups

Working Group members are invited to join pre-conference discussions at private-access web sites set up for the individual Working Groups. Each computer-based collaborative Working Group is accessible only to those who have registered for the Conference and signed up for the on-line forum of the Working Group. The single-issue Working Groups are designed to provide in-depth and extended discussion and learning well beyond what could take place within a two-day conference.

The on-line forums will be supervised by the Working Groups Moderator, Raymond Micklewright.

Conference activities for Working Groups

During their conference meetings, working groups will summarize the issues raised in their Internet forums and attempt to resolve some issues. A plenary session devoted to reports from the Working Group chairpersons or secretaries/recorders will conclude the conference on Saturday.

Post-Conference activities of Working Groups

Some Working Groups may continue on to Ethics & Intelligence 2007 and undertake projects.