Intelligence field

The Intelligence field is the top-level field which involves the systematic collection (known as espionage), analysis, and dissemination of intelligence to support policymaking and key stakeholder decision-making,^[1] primarily in matters related to national security, military affairs, law enforcement, and international relations. Collectively, that process of intelligence is usually called the intelligence cycle. The intelligence field can encompass a range of subfields including; espionage, surveillance, data analysis, and counterintelligence, all aimed at understanding threats, opportunities, and the intentions and power projection of foreign entities. While the act of espionage is illegal throughout the world, espionage is only a single subfield of the intelligence field. There are many subfields of intelligence that are not illegal everywhere, such as Open-source intelligence (OSINT).

Intelligence work can be conducted by government intelligence agencies, police forces, and military intelligence units. This work can also be engaged by private organizations, including; private intelligence agencies, multinational corporations, private investigators, drug cartels, narcotic cartels, terrorist groups, and others. Individuals employed by these organizations can either be fully employed officers of intelligence agencies called intelligence officers, or single and mission-specific solitary contracting agents who are commonly known as "secret agents." Confusingly, the term "spy" has no definition at most intelligence agencies, but is codified in many state judicial systems as an illegal operator.