Black bag operation

Black bag operations (or "black bag jobs") are covert or clandestine surreptitious entries into structures to obtain information for human intelligence operations. This usually entails breaking and entering into denied areas. Some of the tactics, techniques and procedures associated with black bag operations are: lock picking, safe cracking, key impressions, fingerprinting, photography, electronic surveillance (including audio and video surveillance), mail manipulation (flaps and seals), forgery and a host of other related skills.

Use in the FBI

In black bag operations, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents illegally entered offices of targeted individuals and organizations, and photographed information found in their records. This practice was used by the FBI from 1942 until 1967. In July 1966, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover ordered the practice discontinued. [ [http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/bboperations.htm Federal Bureau of Investigation - Freedom of Information Privacy Act ] ]

The use of "black bag jobs" by the FBI was declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court on 19 June 1972 in the Plamondon case, 407 U.S. 297.

See also

*Black-bag cryptanalysis
*Black ops
*COINTELPRO

References

*Peter Wright. "Spy Catcher: The Candid Autobiography of a Senior Intelligence Officer". Penguin USA, 1987. ISBN 0-670-82055-5.

External links

* [http://www.icdc.com/~paulwolf/cointelpro/churchfinalreportIIIf.htm Warrantless Surreptitious Entries: FBI "Black Bag" Break-ins And Microphone Installations]
* [http://people.howstuffworks.com/11-terms-used-by-spies.htm 11 Terms Used by Spies] - [http://www.howstuffworks.com HowStuffWorks.Com] article explaining espionage terminology