Experience has shown that there is no single source for information related to terrorism. It is derived by gathering, fusing, analyzing, and evaluating relevant information from a broad array of sources on a continual basis. Important information can come through the efforts of the Intelligence Community, federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement and homeland security authorities, other government agencies (e.g., the Department of Transportation, the Department of Health and Human Services), and the private sector (e.g., the transportation, healthcare, financial, and information technology sectors).
The Information Sharing Environment facilitates the sharing of terrorism, homeland security, and law enforcement information related to terrorism within and among all levels of governments and the private sector, and at all levels of security classifications.
Terrorism Information is defined by Section 1016(a)(5), Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, as amended (IRTPA):
- The existence, organization, capabilities, plans, intentions, vulnerabilities, means of finance or material support, or activities of foreign or international terrorist groups or individuals, or of domestic groups or individuals involved in transnational terrorism;
- Threats posed by such groups or individuals to the United States, United States persons, or United States interests, or to those of other nations;
- Communications of or by such groups or individuals;
- Groups or individuals reasonably believed to be assisting or associated with such groups or individuals; and
- Includes weapons of mass destruction information. "The term weapons of mass destruction information means information that could reasonably be expected to assist in the development, proliferation, or use of a weapon of mass destruction (including a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapon) that could be used by a terrorist or a terrorist organization against the United states, including information about the location of any stockpile of nuclear materials that could be exploited for use in such a weapon that could be used by a terrorist or a terrorist organization against the United States." Section 1016(a)(6), IRTPA.
Note: The Terrorism Information definition reflects the recent addition of Weapons of Mass Destruction Information incorporated by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.
Homeland Security Information is defined in Section 892(f) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. It means any information possessed by a federal, state, local, or tribal agency that relates to (A) a threat of terrorist activity; (B) the ability to prevent, interdict, or disrupt terrorist activity; (C) the identification or investigation of a suspected terrorist or terrorist organization or any person, group, or entity associated with or assisting a suspected terrorist or terrorist organization; or (D) a planned or actual response to a terrorist act.
Law Enforcement Information - For purposes of the ISE, the term means any information obtained by or of interest to a law enforcement agency or official that is both (A) related to terrorism or the security of our homeland and (B) relevant to a law enforcement mission, including but not limited to information pertaining to an actual or potential criminal, civil, or administrative investigation or a foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, or counterterrorism investigation; assessment of or response to criminal threats and vulnerabilities; the existence, organization, capabilities, plans, intentions, vulnerabilities, means, methods, or activities of individuals or groups involved or suspected of involvement in criminal or unlawful conduct or assisting or associated with criminal or unlawful conduct; the existence, identification, detection, prevention, interdiction, or disruption of, or response to, criminal acts and violations of the law; identification, apprehension, prosecution, release, detention, adjudication, supervision, or rehabilitation of accused persons or criminal offenders; and victim/witness assistance.