GAO Report Says FBI Needs Stronger Academic Partnerships Against Intelligence Threats

The Government Accountability Office released a report Friday finding that the FBI has not identified a plan for strengthening partnerships with academic institutions to address threats posed by non-traditional intelligence collectors. Non-traditional intelligence collectors are individuals whose primary profession is not intelligence collection but who actively or passively collect sensitive U.S. information on behalf of foreign entities.

The report said FBI officials and representatives from academic associations identified several challenges in addressing threats posed by non-traditional intelligence collectors. FBI officials said it is difficult to identify and investigate these collectors because their activities may not constitute a violation of the law until information is transferred to foreign entities.

According to the report, cultural differences between the FBI and academia may impede communication. Academic institutions promote the free exchange of information and may not want to be perceived as turning over their students.

The GAO was asked to review the FBI's efforts to investigate and address threats posed by non-traditional intelligence collectors. The report provides information on challenges posed by these collectors, the FBI offices involved in mitigating and investigating threats, and the relationships between the FBI and academic institutions.

The report found that without strong partnerships, the FBI's ability to counter non-traditional intelligence collector threats and protect U.S. research, intellectual property, and technological advantage is hindered. U.S. national security and economic interests are heavily dependent on technological innovation and advantage.